The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 1, 2023

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on DOD officials warning about the potential "devastating impacts" a yearlong continuing resolution could have on weapons modernization efforts, plus the imminent release of the rule for the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and more.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown recently sent a letter to Senate appropriators asserting a full-year CR, under which DOD has never operated, would have "devastating impacts" that significantly degrade the department's buying power:

DOD raises alarm over full-year CR ahead of high-profile natsec conference

Senior defense officials, some of whom are set to mingle with top lawmakers this weekend at a high-level national security conference in Simi Valley, CA, are mindful that Congress remains mired in disarray over federal spending and have begun tallying the damage that stopgap spending resolutions have wreaked on weapons modernization programs in recent years, along with proclaiming their opposition to a possible full-year continuing resolution that could lock up the Pentagon's budget until next October.

The new rule for the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is due out literally any day now:

Rulemaking, supporting documentation for Pentagon's CMMC program nears formal publication

The Defense Department's work to prepare the proposed rule for its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is nearing completion, according to a Pentagon spokesperson, with publication in the Federal Register expected as soon as next week.

The Defense Department implemented the Microelectronics Commons aiming to lessen U.S. dependency on foreign countries for prototyping, manufacturing and producing microchips at scale through the CHIPS and Science Act:

Microelectronics Commons announces 'Call for Projects' expected timeline

Microelectronics Commons leadership today provided updates on the project timeline with specific dates for the expected release of the "Call for Projects" during a fireside chat.

In mid-September, the Army awarded AM General a $31 million contract to execute the second phase of a development effort launched in July 2022 for the Extended Range Soft Recoil Technologies program:

Army commissions prototype 155mm artillery mounted on FMTV

The Army is exploring an Extended-Range Soft-Recoil cannon on a Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles truck to test the limits and capabilities of 155mm artillery fired from a highly mobile platform and commissioned a full-scale demonstrator as part of determining how best to replace towed systems now vulnerable to counterbattery fire.

A new Defense Department inspector general's report determines "whether the Air Force effectively managed diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS) for the B-52 strategic bomber to prevent and respond to spare part shortages":

IG: Air Force not properly preventing, managing B-52 spare parts shortages

The B-52 Systems Program Office ineffectively managed diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages and subsequently didn't adequately prevent or respond to spare part shortages for the legacy platform, a Defense Department inspector general report found.

Document: DOD IG report on B-52 spare parts shortages