The INSIDER daily digest -- July 27, 2021

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the House Armed Services strategic forces and cyber subcommittees' portions of the fiscal year 2022 defense policy bill and more.

We start off with the subcommittee marks of the House Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill:

House panel recommends provision to reinstate MDA laser projects

A House panel is looking to reinstate the Missile Defense Agency's authority to develop lasers -- particularly research and development of a pair of technologies with potential for knocking down ballistic and hypersonic threats -- a move that aims to roll back an internal Pentagon decision two years ago that effectively took such projects away from the agency.

House authorizers seek details on weapons testing infrastructure needed for GBSD, LRSO

The House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee wants more information on the infrastructure needed to test the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, Long-Range Standoff weapon and others across the Defense Department as part of the panel's fiscal year 2022 mark of the defense policy bill.

Cyber subcommittee proposes pilot programs, flexible funding for DOD tech

The House Armed Services cyber, innovative technologies and information systems subcommittee wants the Defense Department to carry out a five-year pilot program focused on improving the transition of science and technology programs and consider if "flexible funding" would help move technologies into full implementation.

House authorizers direct Air Force to review IT systems, share Agility Prime updates

Lawmakers on the House Armed Services cyber subcommittee are calling on the Air Force to undertake its own effort to review the service's technology systems and identify those that could be sunset.

While we're on the subject of cyber, here's the latest from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

CMMC rulemaking faces delay at DOD, while accreditation body's efforts move forward

The Defense Department's work to complete the final rule for its cyber certification program has hit a snag in the review process, as officials work to provide a draft report to a key DOD regulations council.

We also have a follow-up to the Army's recent award of multimillion-dollar contracts for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program:

First increment of OMFV concept design worth $26.6 million

The first increment of the concept design phase of the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program will be worth $26.6 million for each of the five selected companies, a higher figure than the Army had previously advertised, according to July 26 contract announcements.

Last but by no means least, the Air Force has a new top civilian:

Kendall confirmed after Peters lifts hold

The Senate has confirmed former Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall as the next Air Force secretary.