The INSIDER daily digest -- April 5, 2017

A new CSIS report on DOD contract spending, continued coverage of the Sea-Air-Space Symposium and more highlight this Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

A new CSIS report looks at DOD contract spending:

CSIS: Drawdown in Pentagon contract spending has ended

Total Defense Department contract obligations increased by 7 percent in fiscal year 2016, suggesting the years-long decline in Pentagon contracting has come to an end, according to a new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Coverage from this week's Sea-Air Space symposium:

Navy air boss will make final decision by the end of April on F-35C nose gear fix

The Navy's air boss will decide by the end of April if the proposed fixes for the F-35C nose gear are acceptable for his pilots, according to an official.

(Related: Navy gathering testing data on F-35C nose gear, helmet fixes)

Pentagon reviewing new cost estimate for Flight III destroyer

Pentagon cost assessors are evaluating a new spending estimate for the Navy’s upgraded guided missile destroyer, according to the program manager.

Marines look to begin Light Armored Vehicle replacement program one year early

The Marine Corps is seeking to kick off a Light Armored Vehicle replacement program -- dubbed the Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle -- in fiscal year 2018, a move that would put it one year ahead of schedule, according to multiple sources close to the program.

The Air Force's Space Symposium began yesterday:

Air Force reveals changes to space organization; Rogers calls for separate 'Space Force'

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- The Air Force has announced a number of changes to the way it organizes and manages the space enterprise, but a top House lawmaker is not convinced the measures go far enough to address fragmentation and a lack of space leadership within the Defense Department.

News from this week's Senate hearing on STRATCOM:

STRATCOM chief: 100 B-21s would fulfill strategic needs

U.S. Strategic Command chief Gen. John Hyten on Tuesday told the Senate Armed Services Committee that 100 new B-21 bombers would be enough to satisfy strategic requirements, after the Air Force surprised analysts by suggesting it may look to grow the program.

STRATCOM chief: New counter-UAS guidance now in effect

Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, said Tuesday he signed off on guidance last week to dictate how to engage with unmanned aerial vehicles spotted near weapons facilities in the United States.

The Defense Innovation Board met this week:

Defense Innovation Board: DOD needs to improve its data collection and storage efforts

The Pentagon needs to improve its data collection and storage efforts in an aim to ensure valuable information is preserved for the future, members of the Defense Innovation Board said Tuesday during a public meeting.

Missile defense contracts:

MDA begins awarding technology risk-reduction contracts in support of MOKV prototype plan

The Missile Defense Agency has awarded a pair of technology risk-reduction contracts to advance a potential game-changing missile defense capability: developing a single warhead that, once boosted into space, could deploy multiple kill vehicles to intercept more than one enemy ballistic missile.

Army news:

Army official outlines robotic wingman objectives and challenges

The Army faces certain challenges as work continues on the robotic wingman capability with plans to hold a demonstration in August, according to a service official.

Hix: Army faces 'three compounding fights'

The Army must bolster its capabilities to face a more "violent" and unpredictable battlespace, according to a service official.