The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 17, 2018

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest includes news on an expanding combat vehicle transmission manufacturer, DOD's annual report to Congress on China and more.

The Army's current ground combat vehicle transmission manufacturers could be getting more foreign competition:

Spanish firm establishes U.S. industrial operation in Michigan

SAPA Transmission, the U.S. subsidiary of a Spanish defense contractor, is moving forward with support from the state of Michigan to establish a bona fide industrial operation there, advancing plans for a domestic manufacturing beachhead to challenge the Pentagon's two long-standing combat vehicle transmission suppliers.

The Defense Department's annual report to Congress on China's military capabilities is out:

Pentagon: China is 'likely training' for strikes against U.S. targets

The Chinese military is "likely training" for strikes against the United States and its allies, according to a new "special topic" section in the Pentagon's annual report on China's military capabilities.

Document: DOD's 2018 report on China's military power

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer recently said many surface warfare reforms are "fully underway," but not necessarily complete:

Spencer: 78 of 111 surface warfare reform recommendations are 'fully underway'

The Navy will finish implementing by the end of the fiscal year 78 of 111 surface warfare reform recommendations made by the service's two major reviews, according to the Navy.

The joint force has a new approach to information warfare:

Selva signs joint concept on role of information

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva on July 25 signed the Joint Concept for Operating in the Information Environment, detailing the joint force's new approach to information warfare.

Document: Army's joint concept on role of information

The Navy has started independent risk assessments of certain programs:

MQ-25 requirements for 'independent technical risk assessments' fulfilled; JPALS, G/ATOR next in line

The Navy has begun conducting "independent technical risk assessments," which were mandated by the Pentagon's chief technology officer in June, starting with the service's highly anticipated unmanned aerial tanker and followed by an all-weather landing system for land- and sea-based aircraft as well as a multimission radar, according to a Navy spokesman.

Defense cyber news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Sen. Rounds: Update was due for directive on cyber-offense; ex-officials weigh impact

Senate Armed Services cybersecurity subcommittee Chairman Mike Rounds (R-SD) is praising the Trump administration for scrapping an Obama-era order on offensive military actions in cyberspace, while former top cybersecurity officials found positives as well as concerning elements in the policy move.

New law grants Pentagon broad powers to counter cyberattacks, protect critical infrastructure

The recently enacted annual defense authorization measure gives the Defense Department broad authority to take a more active role in defending privately owned critical infrastructure, deterring and "defeating" cyber aggression from foreign adversaries -- specifically Russia, China, North Korea and Iran -- and securing industrial operations relied on by the military.