The INSIDER daily digest -- Aug. 31, 2020

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on AFWERX, the Marine Corps' presidential helicopter replacement program and more.

Inside Defense recently chatted with AFWERX Director Col. Nathan Diller:

AFWERX explores more programs while rushing eVTOL sector to market

AFWERX is considering launching more programs in dual-use technology sectors while also eyeing export options for its inaugural Agility Prime effort that's pushing to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing providers to market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Marine Corps has delayed testing of the next-generation presidential helicopter program by six months:

Presidential helicopter testing pushed to January, IOC to July 2021

The Marine Corps has pushed back the scheduled start of testing for the VH-92A presidential helicopter by six months, which will allow the Marine operational squadron more time to familiarize itself with the aircraft and prevent overlap between testing and the busy presidential election cycle.

Both the House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill direct the Pentagon to establish a threat intelligence sharing program for the defense industrial base:

DOD cyber official looks ahead to expansion of intel sharing with contractors

The Defense Department's initiatives for sharing cyber threat intelligence with contractors are set for a major expansion under the fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill currently being negotiated by House and Senate lawmakers.

Earlier this month, the Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band pod -- a planned replacement for the ALQ-99 jamming pod fielded in 1971-- flew on an EA-18G during a flight test at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD:

Raytheon's NGJ-Mid Band achieves first flight on EA-18G, advancing toward production review

The Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band program, the Navy and Marine Corps $8.7 billion maritime airborne electronic attack modernization effort, achieved an important developmental milestone this month when a prototype was flown for the first time on an EA-18G Growler, a key step for a project that suffered serious design setbacks three years ago.

The Navy earlier this summer awarded L3Harris a $35 million contract to develop and produce a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel with options worth up to $281 million to deliver eight additional ships:

L3Harris partnering with Gibbs & Cox, Swiftships to deliver MUSV

L3Harris Technologies' new contract to build the Navy's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel includes the maritime technology firm Gibbs & Cox as well as the Louisiana-based shipbuilder Swiftships as subcontractors, according to an L3Harris executive.