The INSIDER daily digest -- August 28, 2025

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has continuing coverage of the Pentagon's scrapping of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System plus the B-21 Raider bomber program and more.

We start off with continuing coverage of the Pentagon's scrapping of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System:

DOD seizing 'momentum' for procurement reform following JCIDS cancellation

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady said Wednesday he is "very confident" the dramatic changes being made to the Pentagon's acquisition process will speed adoption of new technologies by cutting through the bureaucracy that has long slowed progress.

With JCIDS going away, Army will use TiC to drive high-level requirements

The decision by Pentagon leadership to get rid of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) will mean the Army will use its "transforming in contact" initiative, or TiC, to help drive high-level requirements, an Army official told reporters this week.

The first B-21 test aircraft took its first flight in November 2023. Soon thereafter, the program entered low-rate initial production:

Gebara: Second B-21 to fly by end of the year

A second B-21 Raider nuclear bomber will likely fly before the end of 2025, according to Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration.

Since former Defense Innovation Unit Director Doug Beck's abrupt exit, the Defense Department named Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, acting director:

Pentagon tech chief says DIU will continue to report to SECDEF

Emil Michael said his stint as acting head of the Defense Innovation Unit will only last as long as the search for a full-time director, noting that the organization will remain an independent entity that continues to report directly to the defense secretary.

Hanwha, which completed a $100 million acquisition of a shipyard in Philadelphia in December, announced a new investment strategy this week following a christening ceremony for a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) built by Philly Shipyard for the U.S. Maritime Administration:

Hanwha Philly Shipyard announces $5 billion infrastructure investment plan

South Korean conglomerate Hanwha has unveiled a $5 billion infrastructure investment plan for its Pennsylvania-based Philly Shipyard, including the construction of two new drydocks among other upgrades intended to increase production capacity at the facility.