The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 22, 2021

By John Liang / January 22, 2021 at 1:52 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's nascent digital strategy, the Conventional Prompt Strike program, problems with the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship program and more.

Army Chief Information Officer Raj Iyer this week outlined his service's proposed digital strategy:

New Army CIO to establish digital strategy, budget reform mandates

The Army's new chief information officer plans to put together a digital strategy and establish several mandates related to budget reform, among other initiatives starting this year.

Funding cuts don't appear to be affecting the Army and Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike program:

SSP director: CPS program remains 'on track' despite FY-21 funding cuts

The Conventional Prompt Strike program -- the Navy and Army project to field an intermediate-range offensive hypersonic weapon by 2025 and 2023 respectively -- remains "on track" despite a nearly 40% funding cut imposed a few weeks ago to the Navy's $1 billion request in the fiscal year 2021 defense appropriations bill, according to a senior Navy official.

The Navy won't be getting new Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships until a faulty component is fixed:

Navy stopping delivery of Freedom-class LCS after combining gear issue

The Navy has stopped receipt of Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships from shipbuilder Lockheed Martin after identifying a "material defect" with the ship's combining gear.

President Biden said this week he is rolling back the emergency declaration his predecessor used to redirect DOD funds to the southern border wall without the consent of Congress:

Billions could be returned to DOD following Biden's 60-day border wall review

The Defense Department has only obligated around 40% of the $3.6 billion in military construction funds former President Trump seized to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a government document, raising questions about how the new Biden administration, which has halted the wall project, could return the money to the Pentagon.

Document: Southern border wall funding tables

Inside Defense recently interviewed Amentum CEO John Vollmer:

Following DynCorp acquisition, Amentum preparing for reorganization in coming months

With the acquisition of DynCorp International under its belt, Amentum is now assessing the two companies' business systems, technology and processes as it prepares for a reorganization, according to Amentum's chief executive.

The Air Force wants Anduril's protest of an Advanced Battle Management System contract thrown out:

Air Force calls on GAO to dismiss Anduril's ABMS protest, citing jurisdictional issue

The Air Force is arguing Anduril Industries' Nov. 16 protest with the Government Accountability Office against an Advanced Battle Management System contract task order falls outside the watchdog's jurisdiction and should thus be dismissed, according to a source familiar with the procurement.

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