The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 4, 2023

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Missile Defense Agency figuring out what went wrong with a failed 2021 intercept test, the White House resubmitting certain Defense Department nominations and more.

We start off with the Missile Defense Agency figuring out what went wrong with a 2021 intercept test attempt:

Failure review board identifies cause of 2021 missile defense test failure, do-over set for 2023

A classified Defense Department investigation has identified what is believed to be the root cause of a 2021 missile defense failure, giving the Missile Defense Agency confidence to plan a do-over flight test this year that will pit a pair of Standard Missile-6 interceptors against a medium-range ballistic missile target.

Republican opposition is expected to continue on some White House nominations as lawmakers have voiced concerns over a number of Biden administration policies:

White House resubmits seven DOD nominees

The White House has resubmitted seven Pentagon nominees as the Senate was unable to confirm them last year, including several officials tapped for key acquisition posts.

The Air Force released three new requests for information on New Year's Eve seeking industry input on various aircraft mobility topics:

Air Force releases RFIs for mobility COEs with an eye toward FY-24 and FY-25 budgets

The Air Force is seeking industry input on improvements for the mobility fleet, according to three requests for information posted on New Year's Eve, efforts the service says are aimed at implementing one of Secretary Frank Kendall’s Cross-Cutting Operational Enablers (COE).

Document: Air Force mobility cross-cutting operational enabler RFI for air refueling

Document: Air Force mobility cross-cutting operational enabler RFI for airlift

Document: Air Force mobility cross-cutting operational enabler RFI for mission generation

An agreement between the Defense Department and Lockheed Martin has been reached over production of the next few lots of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft:

JPO, Lockheed finalize $30 billion lot 15-17 JSF agreement

The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have finalized an agreement for aircraft production lots 15-17, Lockheed announced in a press release, a potentially $30 billion deal that includes options for up to 398 jets.

In case you missed it, we posted a deep dive early yesterday into the Air Force's airborne refueling tanker recapitalization efforts:

Ahead of a KC-Y RFP, experts weigh anticipated requirements, key features of KC-46 and LMXT

Early this year, the Air Force expects to release requirements for its KC-Y refueling tanker, setting off an acquisition process for a platform that plays a key role in the U.S. military's ability to project power and may cap an on-again, off-again rivalry between two airframes: the Boeing 767 jetliner-derivative KC-46 Pegasus, and the Airbus A330, which has now partnered with Lockheed Martin for U.S. military conversion and is being pitched as the LMXT.