The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 18, 2024

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the effect of the continuing resolution on the Navy's budget, the classification of space-related efforts, the Air Force's top research areas and more.

Navy Comptroller Russell Rumbaugh spoke about the effects of the current continuing resolution during a virtual industry event this week:

Navy will be forced to make costly adjustments if spending legislation isn't passed soon, comptroller warns

If Congress doesn't pass fiscal year 2024 spending legislation soon, the Navy will have to "start taking actions" to adjust for funding misalignments that could amount to almost $30 billion if the current continuing resolution stretches to a full year, the service's comptroller warned Wednesday.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian signed a classified memo at the end of last year that overwrites decades-old policy on classification for space-related efforts:

Hicks addresses space 'overclassification' problem in memo

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently signed a memo removing some classification barriers, which one top official said could help address classification roadblocks that are hindering collaboration on space throughout the department.

In its 2024 Air Dominance broad agency announcement released this month, the Air Force Research Laboratory is asking for input into whether any companies are qualified to engineer or design several breakthrough technologies, from artificial intelligence to advanced missile propulsion devices:

Air Force reveals top research areas for this year

The Air Force is looking for industry partners to conduct research on 13 priority areas, mainly within the scope of munitions, according to a recently published market survey.

Document: AFRL's 2024 air dominance BAA

Northrop Grumman announced this week it would team up with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. for a joint missile defense effort, led by Masahiko Arai, group senior vice president of defense & space systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corp., and Northrop Grumman's Ian Reynolds, vice president of the C4 missile defense business unit in Huntsville, AL:

Northrop teams with Mitsubishi Electric in what appears to be first move toward IBCS Japan

A pair of U.S. and Japanese defense contractors announced a new teaming agreement to "collaborate" on integrated and missile defense capabilities for Japan's ground-based systems, in a move that could be a first step toward exporting to a Pacific ally the U.S. Army's new "game changing" Integrated Battle Command System.

Last but by no means least, here's the latest Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

Tech group looks to upcoming defense acquisition rulemaking for details on incorporating CMMC requirements into contracts

The Information Technology Industry Council anticipates details on incorporating acquisition requirements for contractors under the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will come in the next rulemaking for the initiative, which will focus on making changes to the Defense Department's acquisition regulations.