The INSIDER daily digest -- April 26, 2019

Today's INSIDER Daily Digest begins with a look into the details shared in the Defense Department inspector general's new report on the acting defense secretary.

First off, the ethics investigation conducted by the DOD IG offered new insight into recent Pentagon decisions:

Shanahan's ethics probe offers rare glimpse into Pentagon acquisition decisions

The focus of the Defense Department inspector general's latest report was whether acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan acted ethically, but the document also offered a rare behind-the-scenes look into acquisition decisions made by the Pentagon's most senior officials.

Meanwhile, Shanahan is slated to sign out in the next few weeks new security cooperation guidance for cyberspace:

Pentagon to soon issue new security cooperation guidance for cyberspace capabilities

The Pentagon will soon issue new guidance for facilitating cyberspace security cooperation, as officials aim to increase partnerships between U.S. cyber forces and those of allied nations.

And the National Nuclear Security Administration is stepping in to ensure the JASON program can complete its summer studies:

NNSA to issue new JASON contract after Pentagon breaks ties with group

The Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration plans to issue a new contract this year for JASON national security studies after the Pentagon discontinued its long- standing deal with the group of scientists.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson responded to concerns from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) about the Air Force's Launch Services Procurement strategy:

Wilson: USAF committed to launch procurement strategy

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in a letter today that the service is committed to its strategy for launch procurement.

And a new Government Accountability Office report says “F-35 aircraft performance is not meeting warfighter requirements”:

GAO: Poor F-35 spare parts management, repair inhibiting warfighter requirements

A new Government Accountability Office report claims that the F-35 program's faulty planning and allocation of spare parts has contributed to an inability to meet warfighter requirements, and offers eight recommendations to improve the program's supply chain management.

In Navy news, we have the latest on the Sea Hunter's travels to Hawaii and back to San Diego, CA:

ONR: Sea Hunter experienced three problems during transit to Hawaii

The Office of Naval Research's Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle experienced   three "mechanical or electrical" issues during a transit to Hawaii last fall, requiring a human to board the ship before it reached its destination.

Additionally, the Navy, realizing operators are looking at targets more frequently than firing their weapons, is considering the way laser technology could offer surveillance:

Navy eyeing laser technology as surveillance tool

During at-sea testing later this year, the Office of Naval Research plans to experiment with a high-energy laser's ability to conduct a secondary surveillance mission in addition to disabling small surface craft and unmanned aerial systems.