The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 26, 2025

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an ongoing Defense Science Board study on a Kwajalein Atoll facility, plus coverage of the submarine industrial base, the proposed "Golden Dome for America" system and more.

A new memo calls on the Defense Science Board to "conduct a study on the Designation of Certain Facilities on Kwajalein Atoll as a Major Range and Test Facility Base":

DSB to assess designation of Army missile defense test site as MRTFB

The Defense Science Board has been tasked with conducting a study on whether to designate U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll and the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site it houses as a Major Range and Test Facility Base, per a memo from the Pentagon's acting technology chief cleared for open publication Monday.

Document: DSB TOR memo on Kwajalein as major range and test base

The Submarine Industrial Base Council hosted an event this morning:

House GOP looks to reassure submarine industrial base amid budget uncertainty

House Republicans are attempting to reassure members of the shipbuilding industrial base that robust investment will continue -- when it comes to submarine production at least -- amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's defense spending priorities.

The Space Force's top uniformed officer spoke with reporters this week:

Saltzman: Space Force expects to play 'central role' in 'Golden Dome'

The Space Force will likely play a "central role" in developing and operating the next-generation homeland defense system outlined in an executive order from President Trump, according to Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Salzman.

Army Col. Eric Anderson, division chief of Logistics Division (G-8), spoke at an NDIA conference this week:

TWV commonality vital in the face of funding woes, Army leaders argue

The Army has a "math problem," because costs of Tactical Wheeled Vehicle initiatives are greater than the funding for them, a service leader said at a National Defense Industrial Association conference in Reston, VA.

Stephen Feinberg this week submitted written answers to advance policy questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding his nomination to be deputy defense secretary:

Feinberg promises 'war room' reviews, wants new companies to take on 'major defense players'

Billionaire financier Stephen Feinberg said today that if he is confirmed as deputy defense secretary, he will establish a "war room" to review Pentagon spending in detail to ensure it is aligned to compete with China, highlighting his belief that the department is overly reliant on legacy systems and large prime contractors.

Document: Feinberg's nomination hearing APQs

The Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford's (CVN-78) Total Ship Survivability Trial has been completed, while sortie-generation rate and Ship Self-Defense System test events are scheduled for fiscal year 2025:

Several Navy ship programs make progress in testing phase, including CVN-78 survivability

The Navy is progressing in testing across several ship programs, with advances that include the completion of key survivability testing for the lead Ford-class carrier.