Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on reforming the planning, programming, budgeting and execution (PPBE) process, plus the Air Force's fiscal year 2025 budget request and more.
In an Aug. 23 memo on planning, programming, budgeting and execution reform, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks directs that the Pentagon comptroller "will act as the lead for the PPBE reform agenda and implementing initiatives across the department, with the components in support":
Pentagon launches new programming and budgeting reform initiatives
The Pentagon comptroller has been charged with building a team to reform the Defense Department's 1960s-era planning, programming, budgeting and execution (PPBE) process, according to a new memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
Document: Hicks memo on PPBE reform
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin recently spoke with reporters about his service's fiscal year 2025 budget request as Democrats and Republicans hold razor thin majorities in both chambers ahead of the 2024 presidential election:
Air Force already bracing for possible FY-25 budget delay
The prospect of facing another series of continuing resolutions that would hold back implementation of the fiscal year 2025 defense budget is already piquing concern from the Air Force's top officer.
A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft recently taxied, took off, flew to a destination and landed autonomously to deliver cargo during an exercise:
Agile Flag wraps with completion of several test unmanned cargo flights
Joby Aviation and Reliable Robotics performed several autonomous logistics missions during the Air Force's Agile Flag 24-3 exercise earlier this month, demonstrating the kind of flexibility and extended range the service has said is needed to be successful in a fight in the Indo-Pacific, according to an Air Force news release.
Christopher Maier, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, spoke at a recent Defense Writers Group discussion:
Special ops serving as 'proof of concept' for some Replicator systems in INDOPACOM
The senior Pentagon official who oversees U.S. military special operations forces said today that the Replicator program is likely to become a key enabler in the Indo-Pacific region for SOF operators, who, in some cases, are working and training in small enough groups to serve as a "proof of concept" for what is being envisioned for the new arsenal of rapidly procured, autonomous drones.
A recent Pentagon inspector general's report finds the Navy "did not obtain fair and reasonable pricing for repair of the AN/APG‑65 and AN/APG‑73 radars on the F/A‑18 Hornet":
Navy overpaid for radar systems repairs on F/A-18 Hornets, Pentagon IG says
The Navy has overpaid defense contractors nearly $4 million to repair radar systems on its F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, according to a Defense Department inspector general report.
Document: DOD IG report on F/A-18 Hornet radar repair pricing