The INSIDER daily digest -- Feb. 7, 2020

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Space Fence and Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle programs along with a DOD inspector general report on the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle.

We start off with the Pentagon operational test and evaluation director's latest findings on the Air Force's Space Fence and Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle programs:

DOT&E highlights need for second Space Fence site

The Air Force's new Space Fence radar system is demonstrating the ability to track significantly more small objects in space, but a new report from the Pentagon's top weapons tester concludes that until the service secures a second radar site, the system will not have the power to "continuously track and maintain awareness of these small objects.

ACV reliability growth lower than projected

The Marine Corps' new Amphibious Combat Vehicle showed lower reliability growth than anticipated, according to the Pentagon's top weapons tester.

(For full coverage of this year's DOT&E report, click here.)

A DOD IG report released today states the Air Force spent $17.7 million in Overseas Contingency Operations funding to develop enhanced weather support capabilities for the MQ-9 Reaper between fiscal year 2010 and FY-16, but the service never validated the requirements for these systems and later determined they were not needed:

Air Force auditor general to review internal use of OCO funds for 'innovation projects'

After the Defense Department inspector general's office found the Air Force wasted nearly $18 million from the Overseas Contingency Operations budget on a capability that was never delivered, the service's chief auditor is conducting a review of how this funding is used to develop "innovation projects."

Document: DOD IG report on weather support capabilities for the MQ-9 Reaper

The Air Force's B-52 engine replacement program test strategy is nearly finished:

Air Force expects B-52 CERP test plan approval in April

The Air Force expects to have final approval for its B-52 engine replacement program test strategy by April -- an oversight requirement lawmakers directed in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act due to concerns the service is imposing too much risk on the program by using mid-tier acquisition authorities to procure the engines.

The Army doesn't plan to re-open competition on the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program V:

After taking corrective action, Army says it is sticking with LOGCAP V contracts

The Army says its corrective action on the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program V is complete and that it wants to uphold the original awards, according to a new filing with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

In case you missed it, here's our deep dive into the Commandant's Planning Guidance and what it means for the Navy/Marine Corps team and the impending budget submission:

Marine Corps pursues aggressive change with deep ramifications for acquisition

As the Marine Corps works to keep up with a new National Defense Strategy, its top officer is advocating for sweeping force design changes meant to help the service prepare for 2030.