Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the U.S.-U.K.-Australia submarine agreement, the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System, possible dates for when the next defense spending bill could be marked up and more.
We start off with some AUKUS news:
Lawmakers request DOD spending plan after Australia delivers $500 million in AUKUS assistance
The chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee are calling on the Defense Department to deliver a legally mandated spending plan for $500 million in submarine industrial base aid contributed by Australia.
Document: House lawmakers' letter on AUKUS funding
The Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System could be getting a new corporate partnership:
Through partnership, Anduril could become prime contractor for IVAS
Microsoft and Anduril have announced the two companies intend to partner on future development and production of the Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System, pending Defense Department approval.
In a series of letters sent to fellow committee chairs, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) urged coordination and a review of legislative priorities for the 119th Congress with a goal of marking up the fiscal year 2026 spending bills in "late April" and completing those bills "prior to October 1, 2025":
House aims to craft FY-26 defense spending bill in 'late April'
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said he "anticipates" the fiscal year 2026 defense spending bill will be marked up in "late April," according to a letter sent to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL).
Document: Rep. Cole's letters to lawmakers on appropriations bills
An Air Force reoptimization plan has been put on hold until lawmakers confirm a service secretary and under secretary:
Hegseth temporarily pauses all Air Force 'reoptimization' planning
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Feb. 6 put a hold on all planning actions regarding the Air Force's one-year-old "Reoptimization for Great Power Competition," a service spokesperson confirmed to Inside Defense.
The JLTV A2, supplied by AM General after winning a 2023 follow-on contract over Oshkosh Defense, is phasing out humvees in place of a lighter, more mobile vehicle for the joint force:
Delayed JLTV A2 deliveries underway, but funding challenges persist
Initial deliveries of the newest Joint Light Tactical Vehicle variant kicked off early this year after a six-month delay, an Army spokesperson confirmed Friday.