The INSIDER daily digest -- August 17, 2023

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System, the rollout of an interim report from the Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution Reform Commission, the Marine Corps' proposed lightweight organic precision fires technology effort and more.

An upcoming assessment of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System will measure "system performance to ensure engineering efforts are on schedule and meeting design objectives":

Newest version of IVAS will undergo user assessment this month

The latest variant of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System is set to undergo a user assessment this month, which is the beginning of a series of assessments for the night vision system.

Former DOD Comptroller Bob Hale, chair of the Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution Reform Commission, and vice chair and former DOD acquisition chief Ellen Lord, spoke publicly this week during the rollout of an interim report that outlines several recommendations the panel is considering:

Budget reform commission chiefs say Congress needs more timely info from DOD

Senior leaders on the independent congressional commission aiming to reform the Defense Department's budget and planning system say Pentagon officials need more flexibility from lawmakers if the notoriously slow process is to become agile enough to capture technological innovation needed to compete with China, but they stress DOD must do more to build trust with Capitol Hill.

Document: PPBE reform commission's interim report

The Marine Corps plans to release a formal solicitation in September for Organic Precision Fires-Light -- a new system intended to provide infantry rifle squads with a man-packable "organic, loitering, precision strike capability to engage the enemy beyond the line of sight":

Marine Corps eyes lightweight organic precision fires technology

The Marine Corps is preparing to solicit industry for a commercially available, lightweight, organic precision-fires system, according to a recent presolicitation notice, marking the latest step in the service's effort to accelerate the development and fielding of OPF capabilities.

JetZero has nabbed a contract for the Air Force's blended-wing body prototype aircraft:

Air Force awards $235M to JetZero to build blended-wing body prototype

The Air Force has awarded a $235 million contract to JetZero to build the next phase of a blended-wing body prototype aircraft by 2027, according to an announcement yesterday.

The Navy and Marine Corps are fielding 3D printing systems on ships at sea:

Naval forces turn to 3D printing for production at 'the point of need'

The Marine Corps is fielding 3D printing systems across the fleet, while the Navy has been testing additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities aboard ships and submarines at sea.