The INSIDER daily digest -- June 22, 2018

By John Liang / June 22, 2018 at 2:15 PM

Navy and Marine Corps aviation mishaps, China's military spending binge and more highlight this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Rear Adm. Roy Kelley, Naval Air Force Atlantic chief, and Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, deputy commandant for aviation, both testified yesterday before the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee about aviation mishaps:

Navy, Marine Corps report more class C mishaps

Both the Navy and Marine Corps have recently experienced an uptick in class C mishaps, according to two top aviation officers.

Document: House hearing on military aviation mishap prevention


The Pentagon's second-highest-ranking uniformed officer spoke this week at a conference in Washington hosted by the Center for a New American Security:

'Enough money to go around' to offset China's rise, DOD's No. 2 military officer says

A recent boost in the defense budget means the Pentagon should be able to make new investments in cutting-edge capabilities to regain technological momentum from China amid Beijing's military spending binge, according to Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva.

The Air Operations Center Weapon System program is working to obligate the influx of fiscal year 2018 funding appropriated under the omnibus spending bill earlier this year:

AOC catching up on FY-18 spending following continuing resolutions

The Air Force official overseeing the Air Operations Center Weapon System says the program will be on track by August after this year's funding uncertainties caused a slight spending slowdown.

Three of the four congressional committees that oversee the Pentagon's budget have moved to increase the Army's FY-19 request for the Extended Range Cannon Artillery advanced technology development project by $20 million:

Effort to develop new cannon for Paladin winning support for FY-19 funding boost

In a signal of strong congressional support, lawmakers are backing the Army's high-priority project to develop a new cannon for its self-propelled artillery fleet -- a key part of the service's goal to improve its long-range precision fires portfolio.

Keep an eye out for an upcoming cost estimate for maintaining the software on the Joint Strike Fighter:

Air Force, Navy sustainment team to brief F-35 JPO on software maintenance cost estimates

Air Force and Navy sustainment officials have been working since December to develop a detailed cost estimate for a plan to establish an organic F-35 Joint Strike Fighter software maintenance capability and will brief the program's sustainment lead in the next few weeks.

The Army wants to simplify network systems that have had capabilities added onto them over the years:

Army working to streamline network capabilities

The Army's program executive office for command, control and communications-tactical is taking steps to ease both the physical and operational weight on its platforms and soldiers with new systems.

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