Saturday, April 20, 2024
Saturday, April 20, 2024
This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Air Force's budget planning and more.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a sizeable factor in the Air Force's future budget plans:
Air Force considering COVID-19 impact as it plans future budgets
The Air Force's top planner said today that the possibility of shrinking budgets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is on his mind as he plans the service's spending request for fiscal year 2022 and beyond, though he's not yet sure what impact the current crisis will have on Air Force investments.
Pentagon Assistant Inspector General for Space, Intelligence, Engineering and Oversight Randolph Stone this week announced plans to conduct an "Evaluation of the Ground Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Supporting Hypersonic Capabilities":
DOD IG assessing sufficiency of hypersonic ground test and evaluation infrastructure
The Pentagon's inspector general is launching an assessment to evaluate the sufficiency of ground test and evaluation infrastructure to support hypersonic weapons development efforts.
Document: DOD IG memo on hypersonic test report
The Air Force's presidential aircraft replacement program recently reached a key milestone in its development:
New Air Force One program finishes critical design review virtually
The VC-25B program that's building the next Air Force One has completed its critical design review -- a key milestone on the path to delivering the aircraft that will transport the president around the world.
The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee has released a proposed bill that would create a deterrence initiative for the Asia-Pacific region similar to one in Europe:
Thornberry proposes $6B Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative that could get bipartisan support
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) is proposing a $6 billion Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative bill for fiscal year 2021 intended to enhance U.S. military presence in the region and deter China.
Document: Thornberry's draft Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative legislation
The Defense Department inspector general's office has released a long-awaited report on the JEDI Cloud contract competition:
Pentagon claims new report should 'close the door' on cloud controversy, despite new revelations
The Pentagon says a long-awaited report from the Defense Department inspector general's office should "close the door" on controversy surrounding its enterprise cloud program, even though the watchdog confirmed multiple ethical violations and was stunted in its investigation by the White House's assertion of "presidential communications privilege."
Document: DOD IG report on JEDI cloud procurement
Some Navy unmanned systems news:
Navy does not have cost estimate for preserving MQ-4C production line during 'strategic pause'
The Navy is planning a two-year production pause for an unmanned surveillance aircraft but has yet to determine how much the hiatus will cost, according to the program manager.
The Air Force's commercially available radar competition is back on:
Northrop, Lockheed confirm SpeedDealer bids
Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin confirmed today they have submitted bids for SpeedDealer -- a rapid prototyping effort to help the service identify a commercially available radar to replace the aging TPS-75 by 2022.