The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 24, 2020

By John Liang / December 24, 2020 at 12:22 PM

This final INSIDER Daily Digest of 2020 has news on missile defense, Pentagon software programs and more.

The fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill, which President Trump yesterday vetoed and Congress is expected next week to override, includes a provision that requires a report within 90 days of enactment on homeland cruise missile defense:

Congress directs DOD to codify plans for homeland cruise missile defense, North Warning System modernization

Congress wants a report early next year on the ability of the U.S. military to defend the nation against a cruise missile attack -- with particular emphasis on vulnerability of approaches across the north polar region -- as well as an update on plans with Canada to modernize the early warning radar system currently in use across the Arctic.

Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord recently conducted a milestone C review of the Northrop Grumman-led Integrated Air and Missile Defense program, but has not yet issued an acquisition decision memorandum:

Lord weighing decision on Army request to begin IAMD production

The Pentagon's acquisition executive is readying a verdict on the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense program -- a $7.9 billion effort vital to U.S. ground-force plans to detect, track and defeat modern air threats -- following last week's milestone review where the service requested permission to pivot from development to initial production.

The Government Accountability Office issued a new report this week on Defense Department cybersecurity:

Audit of Pentagon software programs finds uneven approach to agile development, cybersecurity

A recent audit of Pentagon software programs found Defense Department organizations took a mixed bag of approaches to agile development and cybersecurity testing, often leading to schedule challenges, but the Pentagon says a new software "acquisition pathway" should yield better results in the future.

Document: GAO report on IT, cybersecurity

Raytheon's protest of a satellite contract award has been dismissed:

GAO dismisses latest Raytheon protest as SDA reevaluates tracking layer bids

The Government Accountability Office this week dismissed Raytheon's most recent protest of a Space Development Agency contract for wide-field-of-view satellites.

Document: GAO CG decision on Raytheon's SDA protest

Progress on the Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter program has been delayed:

Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter program eyes DT, RAA delays

The Air Force's new search-and-rescue helicopter program is running about two months behind schedule to achieve key milestones as a result of reduced testing site availability and production-related issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic, service spokesman Brian Brackens told Inside Defense.

Happy Holidays!

Inside Defense would like to wish our readers a safe and healthy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year. The next INSIDER Daily Digest will be issued Jan. 4, 2021.

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