The INSIDER daily digest -- April 29, 2022

By John Liang / April 29, 2022 at 1:58 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Navy shipbuilding, military aid to Ukraine and more.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said this week that he uses the submarine force as an "exemplar" to build the future surface fleet:

Gilday: Navy needs confidence of submarine production in surface fleet

The Navy needs to bring its confidence in submarine production to the surface fleet, according to the service's top uniformed official.

The Defense Department's $16.4 billion portion of the overall supplemental request to help Ukraine fend off an ongoing Russian invasion seeks $500 million to establish a new munitions fund:

Austin touts newly proposed 'Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund'

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today the new $33 billion aid package the Biden administration has proposed for Ukraine would include a new "Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund" to help surge production of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons now and in the future.

Textron CEO Scott Donnelly spoke about the Army's Future Vertical Lift effort during his company's earnings call this week:

Army FVL programs on pace in FY-22 and FY-23 budgets, Textron executive says

The Army's fiscal year 2022 budget provided funding for programs Textron is involved with at similar levels to what the company expected, Textron's CEO said Thursday, although he suggested the Army's FY-23 request was lacking in some areas.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Kevin Kennedy spoke about U.S. Cyber Command during this week's TechNet Cyber conference:

CYBERCOM prepares to gain enhanced budgetary control

BALTIMORE, MD -- U.S. Cyber Command is laying the groundwork for receiving enhanced budgeting authority in fiscal year 2024, a move the outfit's director of operations says "is absolutely vital" in continuing to mature the command.

More cyber news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Timeframe for CMMC voluntary assessments shifts to August as Pentagon rulemaking plan solidifies

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body CEO Matthew Travis says he expects the Defense Department in early August to allow official third-party assessments under the voluntary cybersecurity certification program, kicking off the start of an interim period where company certifications will be accepted when the CMMC requirements start showing up in contracts next year.

The Army would spend $139 million on the M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle procurement program in fiscal year 2023:

Army budget strengthens Hercules, cuts other armor enablers

Spending on the Army's armored recovery vehicle would more than double under the service's fiscal year 2023 budget request, compared with FY-22 levels, but funding would drop for the other tank-based vehicles that support armored brigades.

Several aspects of the fiscal year 2023 budget proposal contribute to cost reduction while still advancing capabilities that will better address potential future adversaries, such as China and Russia, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told lawmakers during a hearing this week:

Kendall: Legacy divestment and RDT&E investment will cut down cost

By divesting from legacy platforms and investing early in new capabilities, the Air Force will be able to reduce long-term costs while transforming the service to meet modern threats, Secretary Frank Kendall told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday.

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