The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 25, 2020

By John Liang / February 25, 2020 at 1:22 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage of the Air Force's airborne refueling tanker funding, a recent Air Force 3DELRR radar industry day and more.

U.S. European Command chief Gen. Tod Wolters and U.S. Transportation Command chief Gen. Stephen Lyons testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning on their organizations' fiscal year 2021 budget requests:

Senators press TRANSCOM chief on aerial refueling concerns

The head of U.S. Transportation Command said today the Air Force's budget request should be revised to allow for retention of aerial refueling aircraft slated for divestiture because of ongoing delays to the Boeing-made KC-46 tanker.

Document: Senate hearing on EUCOM, TRANSCOM

Approximately 30 companies attended a recent industry day to hear details on the Air Force's plan to quickly field Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar initial production units to replace the legacy TPS-75 radar beginning in fiscal year 2022:

Air Force considering up to three 3DELRR OTA prototype awards this year

The Air Force could award up to three other transaction agreements this year as part of its new Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar acquisition strategy, according to briefing slides from a recent industry day.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed off on five overarching principles to guide DOD's development and use of AI this week:

Pentagon to distill broad AI principles into guidance, including new contracting language

Pentagon officials concede the Defense Department's first-ever artificial intelligence principles are broad and somewhat vague, but say they are committed to the "hard work" of applying them into concrete actions, including through new contracting language and testing measures.

The Navy is working with industry to develop a design for the Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle that will be competed for a production contract later this year:

Navy planning to buy two LDUUVs in FY-25 using other procurement funds

The Navy expects to purchase two large unmanned undersea vehicles in fiscal year 2025 using other procurement funding, according to the service's FY-21 budget request.

The House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee is scheduled to host a hearing Thursday on "Strategic Forces Posture" with Vice Adm. Charles Richard, the head of U.S. Strategic Command, and other DOD officials:

Ahead of hearings, DOD officials claim 'sensible' approach to nuclear modernization

Pentagon officials are touting what they call the Trump administration's "sensible, reasonable and affordable" approach to nuclear modernization as the Defense Department prepares to potentially clash again with House Democrats over nuclear weapons plans.

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