The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 31, 2018

In today's INSIDER daily digest, we have the latest big contract award for a Navy program as well as new details about the Defense Department's effort to ready for a Space Force.

First off, Boeing prevailed in a three-way competition for a deal to build the MQ-25 Stingray:

Boeing wins $805 million Pentagon contract for MQ-25 Stingray

The Pentagon today awarded a $805 million contract to Boeing for the production of four MQ-25 Stingray engineering and manufacturing development models, according to Navy officials.

Vice President Mike Pence said earlier this month the Defense Department would create a single civilian position to oversee the new Space Force. We've confirmed the effort to create that role has begun:

Pentagon starting to plan for new space chief

The Defense Department confirmed this week it is taking steps to create a new assistant secretary of defense for space to manage the transition to a Space Force.

Meanwhile, the Air Force is looking to transfer money to pay for two programs. Pentagon comptroller David Norquist sent a letter to Capitol Hill in May to realign the funds:

Air Force eyes reprogrammed funds to launch new starts for B-52 and RQ-4 BACNs

The Air Force is seeking permission from Congress to shift $167 million between accounts to launch a pair of new-start programs in response to urgent operational needs for the B-52 bomber and for Global Hawk unmanned aircraft equipped with the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, the airborne communications relay suite.

And the Army is weighing whether it makes sense to use expendable robots, given the way soldiers employ them in the field:

Army looking to develop expendable robots for future fight

The Army's early efforts to examine soldier behavior while using robotic and autonomous systems on the battlefield have shown the service it may need to tailor its development and procurement approach when it comes to robots.

The service is also readying for industry's input on a new battlefield heads-up display. The service is planning to select some vendors to demonstrate their designs:

Army fast tracking new battlefield heads-up display

Near the end of next week, the Army expects to receive white paper concepts from industry for a new battlefield heads-up display, a program the service estimates may cost more than a half billion dollars.