The INSIDER daily digest -- April 7, 2022

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on hypersonic missile development, Army helicopters and a lot more.

The Pentagon's chief technology officer was on Capitol Hill this week:

Shyu warns against 'horse race' perspective to hypersonic development

While the Pentagon's technology chief is targeting the middle of the decade for fielding operational hypersonic weapon prototypes across the military services, she warned lawmakers against adopting "a horse race" mentality to building out that capability.

Document: Senate hearing on DOD innovation

We move on with some Army helicopter news from this week's Quad-A conference in Nashville:

Army hopes digital design, open architecture will decrease FVL sustainment costs

NASHVILLE, TN -- Sustainment might only account for 58% of the life-cycle costs of the Army's Future Vertical Lift fleet, compared to 70% on current platforms, thanks to new technologies, the director of the FVL Cross-Functional Team said April 4.

FLRAA's capabilities could push into some Chinook roles

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army's UH-60 Black Hawk replacement might be able to perform some missions that currently require the CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, thanks to the new aircraft's extra range and performance, according to the leader of the Army's Aviation Center for Excellence.

Followed by some Navy missile news:

Navy mitigated 'unexpected' AARGM-ER behavior during first test

The Navy says it has mitigated an unexpected behavior that occurred during the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range's first developmental test.

Plus the latest from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

CMMC assessment body leader says upcoming guide will address gaps, reciprocity

The accreditation body behind the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program hopes to release in June a CMMC assessment process guide, or CAP, with guidance on remediating gaps and addressing reciprocity with other federal standards, according to CMMC-AB Chief Executive Officer Matthew Travis.

Looks like the Air Force's replacement effort for the presidential aircraft has been delayed:

Air Force expects two-year delay to VC-25B delivery

The Air Force is projecting Boeing won't deliver its Air Force One replacements until the end of 2026, two years later than originally anticipated, a service spokeswoman said.

We also have coverage of more unfunded priorities lists:

Navy sends Congress $4B unfunded priorities list without any ships

The Navy has identified $4 billion in unfunded priorities in a new letter to Congress, but has not included any ships, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.

SPACECOM chief calls out Russia, Chinese tests in unfunded priorities letter

The head of U.S. Space Command has sent Congress a $74 million unfunded priorities list, citing his concerns over continued Russian and Chinese investment in anti-space capabilities intended to challenge the United States, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.

SOUTHCOM looks to boost U.S. allies with unfunded priorities list

U.S. Southern Command has sent Congress a fiscal year 2023 unfunded priorities list totaling more than $270 million, saying much of the money would go toward increasing the capabilities of U.S. allies in the region, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.

North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command and the Missile Defense Agency have drafted a blueprint for detecting and tracking cruise missiles:

DOD has new blueprint for domestic cruise missile defense system; eyes demo in FY-23

The Defense Department has identified a potential solution to protecting domestic airspace against new, long-range, conventional strike weapons designed to hobble critical domestic infrastructure -- and top brass are asking for $50 million above and beyond the Pentagon's fiscal year 2023 budget request for a Cruise Missile Defense-Homeland Kill Chain Demonstration.