The INSIDER daily digest -- April 17, 2017

A new Defense Science Board report, the Navy's training aircraft troubles and the launch of a new Nuclear Posture Review headline this Monday INSIDER Daily Digest.

A Defense Science Board task force looked at defending against ballistic and cruise missiles:

DSB: Additional $2.5B needed per year to defend against advanced ballistic, cruise missiles

Improving ballistic and cruise missile capabilities and inventories by potential adversaries could render U.S. military forces -- particularly equipment and units deemed critical to war plans -- vulnerable, and requires a new three-pronged strategy to shore up U.S. defenses that could cost $2.5 billion annually.

Document: DSB report on advanced ballistic and cruise missile threats

The Navy's T-45C trainer aircraft can fly again, but with restrictions:

Navy lifts operational pause for T-45C Goshawk fleet

The Navy has lifted an operational pause that had been put in place for the T-45C Goshawk fleet after giving pilots a modified mask to use in flight.

The Defense Department's latest Nuclear Posture Review is underway:

Pentagon launches Nuclear Posture Review

The Pentagon, amid escalating tensions with North Korea and Russia, has named the team that will manage its first Nuclear Posture Review since 2010.

Keep an eye out for a DARPA proposers' day to be held this week:

DARPA to hold proposers' day for Ground Truth program

The Pentagon's advanced research arm will hold a proposers' day this week for a program that seeks to help decision makers better understand complex social behaviors by developing testbeds for social science modeling methods.

Document: DARPA's ground truth proposers' day announcement

News on countering unmanned aircraft systems:

DIUx eyes projects to counter UAS, launch from 'stealth' commercial startups

The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental is eying future projects that focus on countering unmanned aerial systems and exploring small launch capabilities from "'stealth' commercial space startups," according to a new report sent to lawmakers by DIUx Managing Partner Raj Shah.

Document: DIUx overview report to Congress

Air Force news:

Air Force restructuring Checkmate strategy group, convenes 'pilot crisis task force'

The Air Force is revamping "Checkmate," a strategic studies group started in the 1970s that sporadically evolves based on the needs of service leadership, according to the Air Force's operations chief.

Air Force approves F-16 SLEP plan, may extend life beyond 12,000 hours

Lockheed Martin announced this week the Air Force has validated a plan to keep up to 300 U.S. Air Force F-16s flying through at least 2048.

Report lays possible path toward reusability in government space launch

A new report from Air University outlines a potential path for the Air Force toward a ten-fold reduction in space launch costs and makes a case for the government to be an early adopter of reusable technology.

Air Force outlines MQ-9 attrition projection, replacement idea

The Air Force says its 350 MQ-9 Reapers are enough to fulfill its current program of record until follow-on capabilities are fielded and has a plan to use backup and reserve aircraft to refill the remotely piloted aircraft's inventory through 2025.