The INSIDER daily digest

We start off this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest with a story on the first example -- stay tuned for more -- of the Pentagon's "Third Offset Strategy":

New space war body dubbed first organizational product of 'Third Offset Strategy'

The chief architect of the Defense Department's effort to craft a "Third Offset Strategy" has branded a relatively new entity formed this fall in Colorado to prepare for conflict in space -- the Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center -- as the first operational and organizational instantiation of the new strategy to strengthen U.S. conventional deterrence against Russia and China.

The Air Force could be getting a business jet to serve as the service's future Compass Call aircraft:

Air Force considers off-the-shelf solution for Compass Call recapitalization

The Air Force is exploring an off-the-shelf aircraft option to replace its Compass Call fleet, an Air Force spokesman confirmed to Inside the Air Force this week.

Expect to see an expansion of the Air Force's Remotely Piloted Aircraft workforce in the coming years:

ACC reveals plans to double RPA flying squadrons and boost manning

Air Combat Command on Thursday released the results of a study meant to develop strategies to better support the strained Remotely Piloted Aircraft workforce, recommending that the service double the number of RPA flying squadrons and increase manning by 3,000 airmen.

Keep an eye out for efforts within the Air Force to improve its foreign military sales process:

Air Force faces complex web of roadblocks with foreign military sales

As the call from foreign partners for additional munitions grows louder, the surging demand is highlighting problems within the Air Force's problematic foreign military sales process and creating urgency for a holistic solution.

The defense industry could be getting more work on sustaining the National Capital Region's Integrated Air Defense System:

Air Force bringing sustainment stability to key DC air defense system

The Air Force is looking to transition sustainment of a key component of the National Capital Region's air defense system from a federally funded research center to industry -- a move the service expects will bring significant cost savings and stability to the program.

Don't expect a DARPA-developed unmanned system to be used on a C-130:

DARPA leaves flexibility for industry on Gremlins unmanned munition

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's air-recoverable unmanned Gremlins may not end up going home to a C-130 cargo aircraft as originally envisioned, according to the deputy director of the agency's tactical technologies office.

Some defense business news:

Companies pitch Agile software development to federal agencies

Government contractors say they're gaining traction in pitching Agile software development to federal agencies, but challenges remain.

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