The INSIDER daily digest

Kicking off this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest with important developments in key missile defense and space programs.

MDA scraps plan for $1.8B block buy of Raytheon missile, slashes procurement

The Missile Defense Agency has shelved plans for a block buy of Raytheon's Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptor -- a potential $1.8 billion deal -- in an apparent change of course underscored by a procurement cut in fiscal year 2017 that slashes quantities well below the objective annual production rate.

GAO: Claims of GMD effectiveness shaky, future acquisition plans questionable

Despite claims of progress in developing a missile defense system capable of intercepting North Korean and Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Missile Defense Agency has not yet proved the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system can defend the homeland, according to a government watchdog.

Lt. Gen. Greaves: GPS OCX is DOD's most troubled program

The commander of the Air Force's space acquisition office on Friday declared the ground system for the next-generation of Global Positioning System satellites the Defense Department's most troubled program.

More daily news:

Vectrus expands focus on IT and network communications work

Seeking growth, Vectrus is zeroing in on IT and network communication services, opening a new office in Reston and hiring a Harris executive to lead its efforts in that market.

GAO pushes Pentagon to provide increased visibility into future services spending

The military must improve how it plans future spending on services contracts, given that they make up more than half of the Pentagon's contract obligations, a new Government Accountability Office report says.

Air Force Research Laboratory continues CHAMP miniaturization plans

Despite calls from Congress to field the Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile, the Air Force's proposed fiscal year 2017 budget outlines plans to prolong research efforts for the program.

New in the document library:

Navy's cyberspace instruction

The Feb. 10, 2016, Navy instruction "establishes policy and assigns responsibilities . . . for management and qualification of the Department of the Navy (DON) Cyberspace Information Technology and Cybersecurity Workforce (Cyber IT/CSWF)."

CRS report on the Navy's Virginia-class submarine procurement effort

The Feb. 12, 2016, Congressional Research Service report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- discusses the Navy's Virginia-class submarine procurement effort.

GAO report on services contracting

The Feb. 18, 2016, Government Accountability Office report finds that Pentagon leadership and Congress have “limited” insight into future spending on contracted services, even though these services make up more than half of total obligations.