The INSIDER daily digest -- June 26, 2023

The bulk of this Monday INSIDER Daily Digest covers details in the Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill.

We start off with a look at what Senate authorizers want to do with the Pentagon's office of cost assessment and program evaluation (which their House counterparts want to kill):

Senate committee supports CAPE -- with some 'tweaks' -- as House lawmakers look to kill it

The Senate Armed Services Committee has passed an annual defense authorization bill that would protect the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office from House lawmakers who wish to eliminate it, though the upper chamber wants more communication and transparency regarding how CAPE advises senior leaders.

Here's what the committee is thinking about Navy programs:

Senate committee wants 24 amphibious ships 'ready at any time'

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who chairs the Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee, said Friday that lawmakers crafting their version of the annual defense authorization bill used their "best military judgment" balanced against spending limits to arrive at a directive for 24 amphibious ships to be available for deployment at any given time.

Senate authorizers green light LPD-33 and sea-launched nuclear cruise missile

The Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the defense policy bill would support procurement of 10 ships including a new amphibious transport dock and establish an official nuclear sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) program of record.

. . . as well as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program:

Senate authorizers won't back AETP for F-35

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted Thursday not to authorize funds for the Adaptive Engine Transition Program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in its version of the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill, breaking from the two defense committees on the House side.

. . . along with the Army's Precision Strike Missile program:

Senate committee wants Army PrSM annual procurement goal to reach 400

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s version of the defense authorization bill directs the Army to increase its procurement objective for the Precision Strike Missile to 400 munitions per year -- far above the service’s goal for the next five fiscal years.

. . . plus coverage of a couple of space programs:

Lawmakers approve additional lane for NSSL Phase III

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to its version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill to establish Lane 2A, an additional lane two years into Phase III of the National Security Space Launch acquisition program.

Lawmakers direct SDA to use MTA for Tranche 1-3

The Senate Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment to its version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill that will allow the Space Development Agency to utilize the middle-tier acquisition authority for the rapid fielding of Tranche 1-3 satellites.

Last but by no means least, our colleagues from Inside Cybersecurity take a look at the committee's cybersecurity thinking:

Senate defense policy bill features measures on cyber info-sharing, zero trust; House version adds Taiwan partnership, AI briefings

Lawmakers have revealed their Defense Department cyber priorities for fiscal year 2024 in the House and Senate versions of the annual defense authorization bill, which were approved at the committee level in both chambers this week.