The INSIDER daily digest

Today's INSIDER begins with a story from the Satellite 2016 conference, held this week in National Harbor, MD.

Commercial satellite executives told Inside Defense that after years of working with the Pentagon, they'd still like to see better communication and planning.

Commercial satellite executives seek improved communication with government

As the Pentagon focuses on innovation, commercial satellite executives this week said they'd like to see military officials recognize and bolster their role.

Also, the Air Force is asking Congress for funds to arm the B-2 stealth bomber with a long-range variant of the service's supersonic, stealthy cruise missile -- pairing two of the U.S. military's most advanced offensive capabilities to give policy makers the option to attack high-value targets during the early stages of a campaign.

Air Force seeks new-start authority to arm B-2 with long-range, stealthy cruise missile

The Air Force is asking Congress for funds to arm the B-2 stealth bomber with a long-range variant of the service's supersonic, stealthy cruise missile -- pairing two of the U.S. military's most advanced offensive capabilities to give policy makers the option to attack high-value targets during the early stages of a campaign.

A recent Pentagon-level deep-dive review of the Air Force's next-generation Global Positioning System ground system did not yield a new service cost position -- as was expected.

Revised GPS OCX cost position still under review after deep dive

A recent Pentagon-level deep-dive review of the Air Force's next-generation Global Positioning System ground system did not yield a new service cost position as was expected, according to the service's top uniformed acquisition officer.

At an event this week, Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the F-35 program executive officer, speculated the next-generation bomber might use the same Pratt & Whitney engine as that of the F-35.

If so, he said, “Pratt & Whitney ought to be looking to drive the cost of the F135 engine down now that they have that other business."

P&W F135 engine may have applications for B-21, JSF official speculates

Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine may have a new application in the B-21 bomber, according to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program executive officer.

Additionally, Inside the Air Force reports that Air University's upcoming war games this year will examine a series of cost-cutting options for the Air Force.

Air University war games focus on refueling tanker alternative, reusable rockets

Air University's upcoming war games this year will examine a series of cost-cutting options for the Air Force, ranging from alternative refueling tankers to recoverable rocket bodies.

And members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are pushing Air Force officials for a near-term plan to ameliorate the service's burgeoning fighter pilot shortage, a deficit projected to increase to 834 by 2022.

Senate presses Air Force officials for fighter pilot shortage fix

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pushed Air Force officials on Tuesday for a near-term plan to ameliorate the service's burgeoning fighter pilot shortage, a deficit that is projected to increase to 834 by 2022.

We'll finish up with two more interesting reads from Inside the Air Force.

AFRL examining ways to streamline intelligence analysis

The Air Force Research Laboratory is looking to fuse data from multiple sensors to combat camouflage tactics and accelerate the intelligence analysis process using machine learning.

Air Force expects greatest COMSATCOM lessons from earliest pathfinders

Although the Air Force will need future funding to pull the trigger on a series of commercial satellite communication pathfinder efforts, some service leaders say they may be able to learn the most important lessons simply from planning those projects.