The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 19, 2024

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Sentinel ICBM program suffering a cost breach, defense officials visiting the Microelectronics Commons Hubs across the country and more.

The Sentinel ICBM program acquisition unit cost has climbed from $118 million in 2020 dollars to about $162 million:

Sentinel ICBMs to cost $162M each, more than 35% above baseline

Costs for the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program grew at least 37% above the 2020 baseline, triggering a critical Nunn-McCurdy law breach, according to the Air Force.

The Microelectronics Commons was created to advance microelectronics production through regional innovation hubs, announcing their hubs in September 2023 and tasking them with conducting all related projects and proposals to bind industry, commercial and government technologies together:

Microelectronics Commons representatives to conduct Hub site visits

Representatives from the Defense Department, the Naval Surface Warfare Center and the National Security Technology Accelerator will conduct site visits from Jan. 22 to Feb. 9 to the various Microelectronics Commons Hubs located across the nation.

House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) wrote to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro this week, expressing concern about the lack of a clear plan for storing and distributing fuel for U.S. forces operating across the Indo-Pacific:

Fuel storage solution in Indo-Pacific imperative, Gallagher says

A “viable, long-term” solution to fuel bases, ships and aircraft across the Western Pacific is imperative, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) said in a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Wednesday.

Document: Gallagher letter to Navy on Indo-Pacific fuel storage

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 this week.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian signed a classified memo last month 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.