The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 14, 2024

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the Air and Space Force Association's annual Warfare Symposium out in Colorado as well as the AFCEA West Conference in San Diego.

The Air Force is warning of the negative effects of a full-year continuing resolution on the service:

Air Force paints ugly budget picture of full-year CR

The Air Force and Space Force will lose a combined total of $6 billion in modernization investments and suffer $13 billion in lost buying power if Congress cannot pass a fiscal year 2024 defense appropriation and opts for a yearlong funding patch, according to a new fact sheet.

More news from the AFA Warfare Symposium:

Kendall: Air Force having 'hard time' negotiating E-7 Wedgetail contract with Boeing

DENVER -- Senior Air Force leaders disclosed that negotiations with Boeing to contract for the first E-7A Wedgetail aircraft have been "difficult" due to non-recurring engineering development.

Space Force creating Space Futures Command to handle capabilities requirements

DENVER -- As part of the Air Force's organizational shakeup, the Space Force will create a new field command to streamline requirements generation for the young service.

Air Force to down select for CCA program in coming months

DENVER -- The Air Force is on track to down select for the first increment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the coming months, but budgetary constraints may only allow for two vendors instead of a preferred three, service Secretary Frank Kendall said today.

We also have coverage from this week's AFCEA West Conference out in San Diego:

Red and Black Seas demonstrate mounting tactical challenges to defending ships, naval officials say

SAN DIEGO -- Two ongoing naval conflicts, one playing out in the Red Sea and other in the Black Sea, have illuminated a single critical lesson: the Navy and Marine Corps must rapidly advance their techniques and tactics to stay abreast with the rapidly changing "character of war," especially when it comes to defending ships from missiles and drones, service officials said.

CNO: Navy on track to begin operationalizing a hybrid manned-unmanned fleet as early as FY-29

SAN DIEGO -- The Navy is making progress in the development of a hybrid manned-unmanned fleet, according to the chief of naval operations, who said the service is on path to begin widespread integration and operationalizing of unmanned platforms as early as fiscal year 2029.