The INSIDER daily digest

A congressional response to an April DOD reprogramming request leads off this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Earlier today, the Defense Department released a response from lawmakers from the four congressional defense committees to a reprogramming request submitted in April 2016. Our coverage so far:

Congress OKs reprogramming for APS, ISR

Lawmakers have permitted the Army to reallocate hundreds of millions of dollars to support key priorities outlined in a reprogramming request signed May 6 by Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord and released publicly Aug. 12.

House appropriators deny Pentagon's request to reduce MQ-25A funding

The House Appropriations Committee has denied the Pentagon's fiscal year 2016 reprogramming request to cut $30 million from the Navy's future unmanned tanker that will operate from an aircraft carrier.

Looks like NATO now has the authority to be the lead buying agent for various U.S. allies:

State approves first weapons sale for new NATO program

The State Department has approved its first potential weapons sale under a new process by which NATO will serve as the lead buying agent for different U.S. allies.

A multimillion-dollar corporate sale is in the works:

Following Wyle deal, KBR agrees to buy Honeywell's government services business

Just one month after acquiring Wyle for nearly $600 million, KBR has agreed to buy Honeywell Technology Solutions for about $300 million, positioning KBR as a larger player in the government professional services industry.

News on the Army's Small Airborne Networking Radio:

Army issues long-delayed draft request for proposals for SANR

The Army is asking industry to develop improved radios for its airborne platforms, according to a draft request for proposals posted Aug. 11 on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

Document: Army draft RFP for SANR

Some news from this morning's Inside the Air Force:

AFRL to prove new LVC technology in 2018, eyeing new program by FY-19

The Air Force Research Laboratory is tracking toward a 2018 demonstration of a new live, virtual, constructive training capability that will enable more realistic training environments as the service brings more fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters into its fleet.

Air Force mulling OCX future, Raytheon focused on meeting milestones

As the Air Force considers the fate of the troubled next-generation GPS ground-control segment, which is moving through a Nunn-McCurdy review process, prime contractor Raytheon is focused on keeping the program on schedule and meeting development milestones.

Air Force announces $35k retention bonus for RPA pilots

The Air Force announced this week it will up its retention bonus for remotely piloted aircraft pilots from $25,000 to $35,000 -- part of a larger effort to boost a deflated career field that has been overworked as demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability continues to grow.

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Wideband SATCOM pre-AOA reveals overlap in industry, DOD needs

An Air Force effort to involve industry in the early planning stages for an upcoming wideband satellite communications analysis of alternatives has revealed to the service that, at least in this mission area, quite a bit of overlap exists between the needs of commercial and military users.