The INSIDER daily digest -- June 22, 2017

The defense budget topline, Navy shipbuilding and a lot more highlight this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest.

The defense budget topline is slowly coming into view:

New defense topline budget numbers emerging from GOP committees

The rough draft of the defense topline for fiscal year 2018 is significantly higher than the figure sought by the Trump administration, though negotiations continue and a partisan budget battle remains likely, according to multiple sources inside three separate House committees.

House authorizers poised to increase FY-18 topline, while GOP budget blueprint is MIA

The House Armed Services Committee is set to authorize a defense spending increase beyond what the Trump administration has proposed for fiscal year 2018 when the committee drafts its version of the defense authorization bill next week, and will likely do so as the GOP remains mired in negotiations over a broader budgetary blueprint.

Navy shipbuilding news:

Navy, OMB in negotiations on LCS budget offset; expected to notify Congress before July 4 recess

The Navy and the Office of Management and Budget are in discussions over the budget offset for a second Littoral Combat Ship in the fiscal year 2018 budget and plan to notify Congress of their decision before the July 4 recess, multiple sources confirmed to Inside Defense.

Courtney: House subcommittee mark requests 13 ships in fiscal year 2018

The House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee mark directs the Navy to purchase 13 ships in fiscal year 2018, which disregards the service's initial request of eight vessels.

More coverage of the defense policy bill mark-up:

House wants DOD plan for space-based sensor network to track ballistic missiles and more

A House panel has proposed legislation that would require the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency to map out a plan to develop and demonstrate an operational prototype of a space-based sensor layer to provide precision tracking data of enemy ballistic missiles "at the earliest practicable opportunity."

Document: House authorizers' FY-18 strategic forces mark

Readiness subcommittee leaves BRAC proposal unaddressed

The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee's portion of the defense policy bill does not provide for a new Base Realignment and Closure round for the Defense Department, but the full committee's bill may address the issue, according to congressional aides.

Document: House authorizers' FY-18 readiness mark

'Baffled' by Compass Call, House committee floats review in defense policy mark

The House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee wants to block any progress the Air Force is making in moving EC-130H Compass Call equipment to a new aircraft until Pentagon leadership signs off on the service's acquisition strategy, following three bid protests and a program delay.

Defense business news:

Vectrus CEO seeks to bolster core work with new technology

Chuck Prow, who took over as chief executive of Vectrus late last year, plans to maintain the contractor's focus on logistics and facilities, but bolster the company's technology capabilities.

(Want more defense business news? Check out our Notification Center to receive email updates whenever a related story is posted.)

Don't expect the Air Force to re-start the F-22 production line anytime soon:

Air Force estimates additional F-22s would cost $50 billion

The Air Force estimates it would cost about $50 billion to buy 194 additional F-22s and told Congress earlier this month in a classified report it has no plans to re-start the production line.