The INSIDER daily digest -- June 13, 2019

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on missile defense and more.

We start off with more coverage of the Government Accountability Office's latest missile defense report:

GAO: GMD salvo test was 13 years late, built on history of tests with moderate realism

The March flight test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system -- a developmental assessment that marked the first salvo launch of Ground-based Interceptors hailed as a landmark achievement by program boosters -- was 13 years behind schedule and was built on a record of GMD tests that have achieved less than 50 percent operational realism, according to congressional investigators.

More missile defense news from this week:

Senate bill seeks options on expanding GBI fleet in Alaska to 100 interceptors

Senate lawmakers are proposing legislation that could chart an expansion of the Ground-based Interceptor fleet in Alaska to as many as 100 guided missiles, a push to enhance the Ground-based Midcourse Defense segment of the Ballistic Missile Defense System that comes as the Missile Defense Agency is facing significant delays in expanding the current 44-interceptor fleet to 64.

Draft Senate bill would assign MDA responsibility for Space Sensor Layer

Draft legislation before a key Senate panel would assign the Missile Defense Agency responsibility for developing the Space Sensor Layer, bucking a Defense Department gambit to fold the project into the new Space Development Agency as part of an effort to develop a new multimission satellite constellation.

Smith: Halt SM-3 Block IIA test against ICBM until interceptor proved against shorter-range threats

A powerful House lawmaker is proposing legislation that would block the Missile Defense Agency from flight testing the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA against an intercontinental ballistic missile target until the Pentagon's top weapons tester certifies the new Aegis interceptor works against the shorter-range threats it was originally designed to defeat.

This week, a sensor-only version of the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon was carried externally by a B-52 aircraft:

Air Force completes first flight test of new hypersonic weapon

The Air Force achieved a major milestone yesterday when it completed the first flight test of a new hypersonic weapon at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval in the House this week prohibiting 22 emergency arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced by the Trump administration last month:

Opposition to emergency weapon sales swells as House lawmakers consider modifying arms export law

House lawmakers introduced measures today to block the Trump administration's "emergency" arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Araba Emirates, as opposition to the weapons deals swells in both chambers of Congress and some members consider modifying the Arms Export Control Act.

And in case you missed it, here's our story on U.S. lawmakers' concerns over Afghan military personnel going AWOL while in the United States for training:

Lawmakers concerned about Afghan trainees going AWOL, request DOD, State briefing

Lawmakers on the House Oversight and Reform national security subcommittee are expressing concern about the number of U.S.-trained Afghan soldiers who go absent without official leave, as described in recent reports by Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko.