The INSIDER daily digest -- April 4, 2017

Defense industry job growth, the Sea-Air-Space symposium and more highlight this Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Domestic job growth is a new, public area of emphasis for defense contractors:

Tracking presidential priorities, defense contractors tout job creation

As the Trump administration publicizes its focus on domestic job growth, defense contractors are actively speaking out about their own efforts to boost employment.

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing this morning on defense reform:

Former Pentagon officials urge House committee to 'keep on pushing' defense reform

Former senior Defense Department officials on Tuesday urged the House Armed Services Committee to continue its efforts to reform the department, praising past work and pointing to new focus areas.

Document: House hearing on defense reform

News from this week's Sea-Air-Space Symposium:

Boeing executive: Defective Navy Growler has not arrived at company

A defective Navy EA-18G Growler has not arrived at Boeing yet, but the company is working with the service to get the aircraft to its facility for engineers to assess, according to a company executive.

(Here's the backstory: Navy sending defective Growler to Boeing for evaluation after pilots report 'physiological episodes')

LDUUV program may be two years behind schedule due to funding cuts

The Snakehead Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle program, selected by the Navy for accelerated acquisition, may be two years behind schedule because of funding cuts in upcoming budget cycles, Inside Defense has learned.

Marine Corps disputes CH-53K cost assertions

The Marine Corps is disputing recent assertions that the CH-53K chopper is more expensive than an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, as the heavy-lift helicopter program awaits an initial production decision from Pentagon leadership.

(Check out our continuing coverage of the Sea-Air-Space Symposium here.)

Coverage of the Government Accountability Office's latest weapon systems report:

GAO: Pentagon success in limiting cost growth has 'flattened'

The Pentagon's progress on managing acquisition cost growth since 2010 has "flattened out" in the past year, though programs begun after a variety of reforms were instituted have seen cost decreases, according to an annual report from the Government Accountability Office.

Navy sets $8.3 billion placeholder in long-term plan for frigate follow-on to LCS

The Navy has established an $8.3 billion placeholder in its long-term spending plan to develop and launch procurement of a yet-to-be-defined fast frigate -- the planned follow-on to the Littoral Combat Ship.

News from this week's Inside the Army:

SPAR 'validates' 10 critical capability gaps

The inaugural edition of a comprehensive review of Army hardware portfolios has generated a clear picture of the capabilities the service must develop to close near- and long-term gaps, according to the deputy chief of staff (G-8).

Q-53 radar enters full-rate production; Lockheed eyes M-SHORAD role

The Army on March 30 awarded Lockheed Martin a full-rate production contract for the Q-53 counterfire target acquisition radar system.

Army official says BCA cap negatively affects industrial base

Funding caps set by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and "a lack of consistent and predictable funding" are adversely affecting the Army's organic industrial base, according to a service official.