The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 13, 2023

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the ramifications of China flying a balloon over the continental United States, the fighting in Ukraine and more.

The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee this week held a hearing on the incursion of a Chinese balloon that flew over U.S. airspace and was subsequently shot down off the East Coast:

Senators want FY-24 DOD budget proposal on counter-balloon capability

Key lawmakers have directed the Pentagon to prepare a fiscal year 2024 proposal that ensures the U.S. military has a counter-high-altitude surveillance balloon capability in response to the Chinese airship that flew across the United States before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander recently spoke at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security:

DOD official says effort to bolster Ukrainian air power could come when fighting de-escalates

A senior defense official today said it is the Pentagon's view that the opportunity to boost Ukraine's air power could come once fighting in the country has de-escalated -- possibly through a negotiated settlement with Russia -- despite Kyiv's calls for combat aircraft now.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have coverage of a recent House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee hearing:

Rep. Gallagher identifies joint collaborative environment, 'SICI' legislation as top Solarium priorities

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee, is planning to push for legislation to create a joint collaborative environment within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and address "systemically important critical infrastructure," in an effort to get two high-priority recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission into law.

The Army late last week awarded a multibillion-dollar contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program:

Army awards $8B JLTV follow-on production contract to AM General

The Army has awarded a follow-on production contract to AM General for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle worth more than $8 billion, the service announced on Thursday. The incumbent manufacturer of the JLTV, Oshkosh Defense, says it is pursuing a debriefing from the government in the very near future.

A senior official in the Pentagon's chief digital and artificial intelligence office talked this week about a study the office is conducting on responsible AI tools and producing toolkits that include data and model cards:

Pentagon's digital and AI outfit focusing on rolling out 'toolkits' in near term

The Defense Department's chief digital and artificial intelligence office is working to "operationalize" the guidance surrounding AI usage and deliver tools for the department to realize its AI efforts, according to a top CDAO official.