The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 11, 2019

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has continuing coverage of the defense authorization conference bill, plus hypersonic defense and more.

Here's our continuing coverage of the FY-20 defense authorization conference report:

Bipartisan deal on defense bill expands Pentagon cyber acquisition reforms, calls for 5G strategy

An agreement by the House and Senate on the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill contains numerous cybersecurity provisions, including an expansion of past cyber acquisition reforms targeting foreign adversaries such as China and Russia, and a requirement that the Defense Department develop a strategy for securing next-generation 5G networks crucial to warfare in the digital age.

Lawmakers allow Pentagon's intermediate-range missile developments to move forward

The compromise fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill allows the Defense Department to continue developing and testing conventional, ground-launched missiles with ranges in excess of limits set by a now-abandoned treaty, while lawmakers want more information on DOD's plans for the weapons before approving their procurement and deployment.

Lawmakers give Navy flexibility with Ford-class cost caps

House and Senate lawmakers are providing the Navy flexibility on cost caps for the Ford-class aircraft carriers, but are stopping short of repealing the restrictions.

Defense policy bill requires reporting on ABMS progress

Congressional conference members have agreed to include a House provision in their fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill that requires the Air Force to share information on progress in the Advanced Battle Management System program.

Following Block V contract, Congress pressing Navy to build optional 10th sub

House and Senate lawmakers are pressing the Navy to plan on purchasing an additional Virginia-class submarine in future spending requests after the service told Congress the original budget submission could not be executed.

Lawmakers direct Air Force, SOCOM to collaborate on light-attack strategy

Defense policy language released this week directs the Air Force to work with U.S. Special Operations Command to determine how both organizations can take advantage of continued light-attack aircraft experimentation.

Hypersonic defense is gaining traction within the Missile Defense Agency:

DOD readies new weapon system plan for 'regional' hypersonic defense

The Pentagon is beginning a new weapon system project to defeat hypersonic glide vehicles, briefing industry next week on what is likely a decades-long project to expand the reach of the Ballistic Missile Defense System to counter these ultra-fast, maneuvering menaces that exploit current seams in U.S. defenses.

The Office of Management and Budget will soon decide which Air Force programs it will ask Congress to exempt from the limitations of the current continuing resolution:

OSD sends Air Force's continuing resolution anomalies list to OMB

The Office of the Secretary of Defense has sent the Air Force's list of programs for potential waivers under the ongoing continuing resolution to the Office of Management and Budget amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over fiscal year 2020 spending.

Over the summer, U.S. Strategic Command's NC3 Enterprise Center (NEC) completed a broad overview of modernization needs that was approved by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council:

NC3 Enterprise Center outlines requirements, explores readiness and cost

A nascent program that's developing the shared architecture for 21st century nuclear command, control and communications technology has begun to define requirements, explore readiness of current systems and consider approaches for a total NC3 modernization cost analysis.

The Pentagon plans to have draft "assessment guides" on training available by February for the lowest levels of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

DOD meeting on accreditation body underscores hurried pace toward cyber certification

The Defense Department called a meeting last week with contractors and standards-writing bodies that included presentations from several working groups on recommendations for establishing a cybersecurity certification program, an event that underscores the Pentagon's breakneck pace for creating the landmark program even while core elements remain unresolved.