The INSIDER daily digest -- April 26, 2022

By Thomas Duffy / April 26, 2022 at 3:41 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy’s rationale for compiling its unfunded priorities list, the Government Accountability’s Office further review of the Joint Strike Fighter program, a cruise missile defense radar demonstration, and the Defense Department adding money to its European defense program.

If Congress provides more money the Navy says industry can build more E-2D Hawkeye aircraft in 2023:

Navy: Contractor can support building additional E-2Ds in FY-23, more aircraft needed

After being informed that industry can build more E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes in fiscal year 2023, the Navy is asking Congress for $400 million in its unfunded priorities list for two additional aircraft.

The GAO sees more problems for the F-35 program:

GAO: F-35 Block 4 development, delivery to extend into FY-29

The Pentagon’s efforts to develop and deliver advanced Block 4 software capabilities to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have risen by more than half a billion dollars and are expected to extend into fiscal year 2029, a Government Accountability Office report released today shows.

DOD thinks it may have a way to protect the National Capitol region from a cruise missile attack:

Homeland cruise missile defense radar demo in FY-23 could link with Aegis interceptors

The Defense Department is looking to defend Washington, DC, as well as other unspecified domestic locations against Russian and Chinese cruise missiles by pairing a new variant of an elevated X-band radar with advanced systems that guide missile interceptors, such as Aegis cruisers or destroyers.

With war raging in Ukraine, the Pentagon is adding money to its European defense effort:

Pentagon boosts European Deterrence Initiative by $300M

The Defense Department is proposing a $4.2 billion European Deterrence Initiative for fiscal year 2023, a $300 million increase over what Congress enacted for FY-22, with much of the funding being directed toward Army operations and maintenance spending, according to a newly released budget justification document.

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