The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 16, 2024

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy for the first time reloading a warship with missiles while underway, plus the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and more.

During a first-of-its-kind, open-ocean demonstration, Military Sealift Command vessel Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11) was able to connect with Ticonderoga-class cruiser Chosin (CG-65) to aid in the reloading of the latter vessel’s MK 41 vertical launch system "many times" over multiple days in multiple sea states:

Navy reveals fresh details on TRAM demo as lawmakers advance calls for concrete fielding plan

As lawmakers advanced joint authorization legislation calling on the Navy to produce a concrete strategy for delivering an at-sea re-arming capability, service officials last week revealed new details about a successful demonstration of their developing Transferrable Reload At-sea Method (TRAM) conducted in October.

Some cybersecurity news:

CMMC program rule goes into effect

Major changes to the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program go into effect today through a long-awaited final rulemaking establishing the program in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Cyber still being 'ignored' in certain programs

Even as the Pentagon warns that cyber is one of the greatest threats facing military assets and infrastructure, some acquisition executives are still willing to accept risk there, according to Defense Department cyber strategists.

The goal of the Army's Artificial Intelligence and Software at Pace (AIS@P) effort is to give the Defense Department and other government agencies a "large pool of contracts" with defined skillsets and requirements:

Army industry day will outline plans for Project Linchpin advancement

The Army will host an industry day in early January to inform a multiple award task order contract for two requirement pools -- one dealing with software development and the other homed in on the Army’s first artificial intelligence, machine learning pipeline: Project Linchpin.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, is a short-range, surface-to-air capability intended to protect ground forces from low-altitude unmanned aircraft:

MADIS air-defense system fielded to Hawaii-based Marine Littoral Regiment

The Marine Corps has fielded a mobile, drone-killing air defense system to its 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion in Hawaii, the service announced, with the system expected to achieve initial operational capability.