The INSIDER Daily Digest

We’re closely tracking today’s DefenseOne Summit, featuring some of the top defense officials. Here’s our coverage so far.

Thornberry: Planned spending cuts to be visible soon

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said he expects negotiators to finalize $5 billion in cuts to defense spending today, in accordance with the figures outlined in the two-year budget agreement reached last week and signed into law by President Obama on Monday.

ALSO: The Special Inspector General for Reconstruction in Afghanistan has issued a report detailing how $43 million was spent on a gas station in Afghanistan that should have cost $500,000.

Watchdog agency keeps sights set on disbanded OSD task force

The Pentagon’s special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction is blasting the Defense Department for continuing to disavow all knowledge of a business task force alleged to have wasted $800 million.

Monday means Army news, and we’ve got plenty. Here are several of the top headlines from Inside the Army.

Army official ties future of robotics revolution to open systems

The key to success in the brave new world of military robotic ground systems lies in the Army's ability to enforce open standards in future technology developments, a service official has argued.

Army is still in waiting mode on potential humvee modernization

The Army will hold off on making any decisions about a potential humvee-upgrade program until a study of the future fleet of light tactical vehicles is completed, according to a key service official.

Official: 'Philosophical' changes needed to prioritize lightness in vehicles

The Army has embraced the goal of making its vehicles lighter, even though there are fundamental changes needed in the approach to developing new systems, a service official said last week.

Despite Army general's calls, no plans to change U.S. campaign in Europe

Pentagon leaders so far appear unwilling to put a U.S. campaign aimed at reassuring European NATO members in the face of Russia's actions in Ukraine on a new footing, despite calls by an Army general to up the ante.

An In-Q-Tel executive last week took aim at the Pentagon’s approach to finding innovation in Silicon Valley, arguing it’s “short-sighted.”

Industry officials criticize Pentagon's approach to finding innovation

As the Pentagon looks to the West Coast for innovation, panelists at an event sponsored by several industry groups said the department should adapt its approach for pursuing cutting-edge technology.

We have two stories on the Pentagon’s challenges in Russia.

Countering Russia on ground in Baltics requires 3 to 4 heavy brigades: RAND

Three to four heavy combat brigade equipment sets -- provided by the Army and European allies -- along with increased troop rotations are needed in the Baltic states in order to offset a current Russian ground force military advantage in the region, according to the early findings of an Army-commissioned assessment by the RAND Corp.

EUCOM chief: U.S. changing intelligence priorities on Russia

During an Oct. 30 briefing at the Pentagon, the head of U.S. European Command said the intelligence community has moved to address a deficiency with respect to Russia -- a shift for which he is “thankful.”

Coming up tomorrow, the House Armed Services seapower subcommittee has scheduled a Navy aircraft carrier hearing featuring Sean Stackley, the service’s acquisition executive. Check out our latest coverage on aircraft carriers.

McCain: Navy Must Consider Pursuing Carrier Alternatives If Ford-Class Costs Are Not Contained

If the Navy cannot control the cost of its next-generation aircraft carrier fleet, then the service must be willing to pursue other alternatives such as building smaller, less expensive aircraft carriers to bring new competitors in the market, according to a report released by an influential senator.

Navy Must Better Identify Programmatic Risks Before Requesting Funding

The Navy must better identify programmatic risks before asking Congress to authorize and appropriate funding for a major acquisition program such as the multibillion-dollar Ford-class aircraft carrier, according to the service's acquisition executive.