The INSIDER daily digest -- July 12, 2019

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy's LCAC life-extension efforts, SpaceX's ongoing dispute with the Air Force on a Launch Services contract, Marine Corps MUX aircraft and more.

The Pentagon's comptroller recently sought congressional permission to shift funds appropriated in the Navy's fiscal year 2019 shipbuilding accounts for the Landing Craft Air Cushion service life extension project as part of an annual reallocation of funds from low- to high-priority projects:

Navy curtails LCAC SLEP, scraps plans for 2019 craft upgrade

The Navy is curtailing the Landing Craft Air Cushion service life extension project, scrapping plans to proceed with awarding a contract this summer to modernize the combat hovercraft in the inventory slated for improvements on account of its poor material shape and is instead offering up $23 million previously slated for the project for other service priorities.

More reprogramming news from yesterday, in case you missed it:

Congress allows DOD to shift $34 million to jump-start 5G tech development

Lawmakers have allowed the Defense Department to move $34 million in its fiscal year 2019 budget to begin a new program aimed at accelerating fifth-generation wireless technology development.

Lawmakers reject DOD request for early launch of new Space Development Agency

Lawmakers have turned down a Pentagon gambit to accelerate the Space Development Agency's launch, citing concern about the sudden resignation last month of the agency's director and shifting plans for the new entity.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week to consider the nomination of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

General tapped to chair Joint Chiefs worried about budget deal

The Army general nominated to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today he is concerned Congress will be unable to reach a bipartisan budget deal to adequately fund the Pentagon.

Document: Milley's nomination hearing advance policy question answers

SpaceX is refuting an Air Force claim that the company's lawsuit against the recent awarding of contracts for a Launch Services Agreement competition doesn't have merit:

SpaceX refutes Air Force's jurisdictional claims in launch services lawsuit

SpaceX is pushing back on Air Force attempts to have the company's recent lawsuit dismissed, claiming in a document filed this week with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

Col. James Frey, the director of the Marine Corps' Aviation Expeditionary Enablers branch, spoke with reporters in the wake of an industry day in Alexandria, VA, this week to discuss the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System Expeditionary's acquisition strategy:

Marine Corps planning to buy 80 to 100 MUX aircraft

The Marine Corps intends to purchase between 80 and 100 Group 5 unmanned aerial systems envisioned to take on a variety of mission sets and operate from a large-deck amphibious ship or Navy destroyer, according to a service official.