The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 18, 2020

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan, an upcoming mobile 150 mm howitzer shoot off and more.

We start off with congressional responses to the Navy's proposed 30-year shipbuilding plan:

Congressional leaders support bigger Navy, but split on Trump administration plan

Both Democrats and Republicans support a larger Navy, but congressional leaders have mixed reactions to the Trump administration's recently released shipbuilding plan.

Three companies announced this week that their respective proposals for a vehicle-mounted cannon to improve Army tactical mobility and system survivability compared to existing towed howitzer systems will participate in a live-fire shoot off at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, in 2021:

Elbit, BAE, GMP say they received Army invite for mobile 155 mm shoot off; AM General mum

The Army contest to find an off-the-shelf wheeled 155 mm howitzer will have at least three contenders: BAE Systems, Elbit America, Global Military Products, with AM General, another potential player, unwilling to comment on its status in the competition.

The head of United Launch Alliance spoke with reporters this week:

ULA CEO: Future launch strategies will likely require greater government investment

United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno told reporters this week he expects future Space Force Launch Services Procurement strategies will call for more national security-unique requirements, potentially shifting the investment burden more toward the government and away from industry.

The Missile Defense Agency has posted an "advanced research opportunity" solicitation for the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications system inviting "innovative technical approach concept 'white' papers that address operationally focused C2BMC capabilities and/or agile mechanisms to monitor, acquire, track, and engage adversary weapons during any phase of an attack":

MDA invites industry proposals to improve planned C2BMC spiral upgrades

The Missile Defense Agency is asking industry for ideas on how to improve the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) system, eyeing new enhancements for potential incorporation in planned upgrades of the global system of workstations, servers, network equipment and software that collectively ties together the $202 billion Ballistic Missile Defense System.

In case you missed it, the new National Maritime Strategy has been released:

New Maritime Strategy focuses on countering China

The tri-service National Maritime Strategy, released by the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Thursday, calls for the U.S. to focus on growing threats by China and Russia.

Document: National Maritime Strategy

Bell Helicopter's proposed Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft prototype hit a certain milestone this month:

Bell V-280 reaches 200 hours of flight time

Bell's offering for the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft hit 200 flight hours this month since its first flight three years ago, a company official told Inside Defense yesterday.