Sunday, May 5, 2024
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Key Issues Budget 'parity' Summer CUAS demo EW in Ukraine
The Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy leads off this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.
The Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy is out:
Mattis' new strategy emphasizes modernization and capability over military size
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said today the new National Defense Strategy emphasizes military capability over capacity, increasing the Pentagon's focus on new investments in high-end technologies aimed at "great power competition" with China and Russia.
Related:
Air Force kicks off program review to shape FY-20 POM in light of National Defense Strategy
As the Air Force prepares to build a fiscal year 2020 budget request that reflects the priorities of the forthcoming National Defense Strategy, the service this week began a two-month zero-base review of its programs to determine how and whether they help increase lethality against future threats.
The Pentagon's FY-19 base budget could see a plus-up:
Sources: Mattis went to Trump for Pentagon budget growth -- and got it
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has successfully lobbied the White House to increase the Pentagon's fiscal year 2019 base budget by approximately $35 billion to $40 billion, according to government sources and analysts with knowledge of the negotiations.
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week to consider several Trump administration nominees:
Nominee for top Pentagon technology job endorses boost-phase missile defense
President Trump's nominee for the top technology post at the Pentagon believes boost-phase missile defenses could be rapidly deployed to counter North Korea's ballistic missile program, arguing only "will" has prevented the Defense Department from doing so already.
Roper planning F-35 sustainment review if confirmed to lead Air Force acquisition
The nominee for the long-vacant Air Force acquisition executive role is planning "a very deep-dive" look at the F-35 program, particularly in the area of sustainment.
Document: Senate hearing on USD/R&E, Navy, Air Force nominations
The Air Force's B61-12 tailkit program could be pushed back if another continuing resolution comes into effect:
B61-12 tailkit program threatened by another CR
The Air Force will be forced to push back procurement of 30 B61-12 tailkit assembly trainers if Congress enacts another short-term continuing resolution this week, according to a service spokeswoman.
Modernizing U.S. nuclear forces might not cost as much as originally thought:
Draft NPR pitches DOD's looming nuclear modernization bill as 'affordable priority'
A draft of the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review brands the Pentagon's estimated two-decade-long project to modernize U.S. nuclear forces an "affordable priority" that will carry a cost, as a proportion of total defense spending, significantly lower than previous nuclear modernization campaigns.
Keep an eye out for the first flight of MQ-9 Reapers from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina:
Shaw AFB prepares to fly first Reapers in next few months
Shaw Air Force Base, SC, expects to fly its first MQ-9 combat line by early spring, and officials there told Inside the Air Force this week they hope service leadership will continue their commitment to sustained funding and flexible planning as the new Reaper control group stands up.
The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent could see more design tradeoffs:
Contractors to report results of GBSD trade studies at review this year
Northrop Grumman completed its systems requirements review for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent in October and will study more design tradeoffs to help the Air Force shape the acquisition, a company spokesman recently confirmed to Inside the Air Force.
News on the Space-Based Infrared System:
SBIRS GEO-4 to establish baseline space-based missile-warning capability
The Air Force was slated to launch its fourth Space-Based Infrared System satellite to geosynchronous orbit last night, securing the baseline capability for the persistent missile warning constellation. The launch, however, was scrubbed due to weather.
A GAO report on a new technology that tracks military aircraft is out:
GAO finds 'urgent need' for DOD, FAA to address risks related to ADS-B
Neither the Defense Department nor the Federal Aviation Administration have approved any solutions to address risks related to the implementation of a new technology that tracks military aircraft, according to the Government Accountability Office.