Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024
A new CBO cost analysis of U.S. nuclear forces, plus a pair of speeches by the head of SOCOM and the sergeant major of the Army are among the stories included in this Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest.
The Congressional Budget Office did a recent cost estimate of maintaining and modernizing U.S. nuclear forces:
CBO pegs cost of nuclear forces at $400B over next decade
It will cost $400 billion over the next 10 years to operate, maintain and modernize U.S. nuclear forces, an average of $40 billion annually, according to a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office.
Document: CBO report on 'projected costs of U.S. nuclear forces, 2017 to 2026'
The head of U.S. Special Operations Command spoke at a special operations and low intensity conflict conference this morning:
SOCOM chief: Command's review of forces has gone through staffing
U.S. Special Operations Command has staffed a review looking at its forces and any gaps that exist, according to the head of SOCOM.
The sergeant major of the Army spoke about end strength earlier today:
Dailey calls for funding to support higher end strength
The Army faces "a unique challenge" as it adapts to the larger end strength authorized by Congress for fiscal year 2017 amid budgetary constraints and readiness challenges, according to its senior enlisted leader.
More Army news:
Army officials highlight practical applications of cyber capabilities
As the Army continues to advance its cyber capabilities, the service is also examining practical applications for those capabilities, according to officials.
G-3: Leaders have a plan for 1.2 million-soldier Total Army
The Army has developed plans to increase total end strength to 1.2 million, thereby lowering the risk to the force from its current "high" to a "moderate" level.
Hix cites historical precedent in urging modernization
The Army needs to modernize as it faces an evolving global threat environment, and must "look to our past to help anticipate and understand our future," according to the service's chief strategist.
Army official outlines advances in cyber, electronic warfare capabilities
The Army is moving forward with steps to improve its cyber capabilities while also developing electronic warfare capabilities, according to the head of the service's cyber directorate.
The Aerospace Industries Association recently touted the virtues of its members' trade surplus:
Aligning with Trump priorities, AIA touts trade balance and jobs
In an oblique appeal to the Trump administration, the Aerospace Industries Association is touting a "record trade surplus of $90 billion in 2016" and continued support of the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Navy news:
Pentagon grants Navy waiver for not-yet-mature technology on Columbia-class submarine
The Pentagon's acquisition executive last month -- while approving the Navy's request to initiate the Ohio Replacement Program as a major defense acquisition program by starting engineering and manufacturing development on the new ballistic missile submarine -- waived a statutory requirement for one technology that has not yet demonstrated the prerequisite to operate in a relevant environment.
Navy delivers fleet architecture studies to Congress
The Navy has delivered three congressionally mandated studies to lawmakers that could generate potential changes in the way the service designs and postures its fleet in the future.
Document: Navy report on 'alternative future fleet platform architecture study'
Hiring freeze impacts Marine Corps 194,000-force build up
The federal workforce civilian hiring freeze will negatively impact the Marine Corps' ability to execute its 194,000-troop force buildup, according to the service's assistant commandant.