The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 21, 2023

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the launch of a Defense Science Board summer study, the National Security Agency's annual cybersecurity report and more.

Pentagon research chief Heidi Shyu is calling on the Defense Science Board to conduct a summer study on "Advanced Capabilities for Potential Future Conflict":

DOD shrouds 2024 DSB summer study on 'advanced capabilities' in secrecy

The Pentagon is wrapping a veil of secrecy around the substance of an upcoming Defense Science Board summer study, marking as classified particular areas of focus that will be explored as part of the influential advisory panel's marquee 2024 investigation, an effort that typically culminates in August and often shapes future weapon system investment plans.

Document: Shyu memo on DSB study on advanced capabilities for potential future conflict

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have coverage of the National Security Agency's annual cybersecurity report:

NSA's year-in-review highlights cybersecurity efforts to address China threat, work with partners

The National Security Agency has released its 2023 year-in-review report for cybersecurity, providing a rundown of efforts at NSA's Cybersecurity Collaboration Center and work with partners to address threat actors from the People's Republic of China and other nations.

Document: NSA's 2023 cybersecurity year-in-review report

With the Senate on the brink of going on its end-of-year break, the White House is warning it will have exhausted all the funds used to provide weapons to Ukraine by the end of the month:

Senate looks to punt security spending fight into new year

Senior Democrats and Republicans in the Senate are preparing to leave for the holiday break, saying today that although progress has been made on a $110.5 billion national security supplemental spending package, lawmakers remain at odds over border security provisions.

The FY-25 budget squeeze could force the Missile Defense Agency to short-circuit the current competition between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for the Next Generation Interceptor program as well as RTX and Northrop Grumman for the counter-hypersonic project called Glide Phase Interceptor:

NGI and GPI eyed as billpayers in FY-25 budget squeeze, DOD could pick winners early

The Defense Department is considering earlier-than-planned design selections for the Next Generation Interceptor and Glide Phase Interceptor to free up funds needed to finance fiscal year 2025 shortfalls caused by GOP-mandated debt ceiling negotiations that trimmed the Biden administration's FY-25 military spending forecast.

BAE Systems will build M2A4 and M7A4 Bradley vehicles using “legacy source variants” for approximately $78.3 million by a completion date of Mar. 31, 2026, with work locations to be determined with each order, according to a recent contract announcement:

BAE wins contract to build Bradley fighting vehicles using legacy variants

BAE Systems won a contract to manufacture Bradley fighting vehicles using older variants, the Defense Department announced last week.