Sunday, May 12, 2024
Sunday, May 12, 2024
The Navy's Littoral Combat Ship program, DOD's focus on the Asia Pacific, missile defense and more highlight this Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest.
Inside Defense has learned how the Navy plans to pay for a second Littoral Combat Ship in the FY-18 budget:
Navy identifies postponed aircraft carrier midlife refueling as LCS budget offset
The Navy has identified a postponed aircraft carrier midlife refueling as a way to offset the cost of a second Littoral Combat Ship in the fiscal year 2018 request, multiple sources confirmed to Inside Defense.
Coverage of DOD's focus on the Asia Pacific:
Pentagon backs billions in Asia Pacific stability spending as lawmakers eye new fund
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis supports congressional efforts to expand U.S. military investments in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically highlighting initiatives put forth by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and his House counterpart Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) to add billions in new spending.
Document: Mattis' speech at Shangri-La Dialogue
China sharpens focus on military innovation
China continues to pursue a robust military modernization agenda intended to bolster its global influence as it remains engaged in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas, according to an annual report released June 6 by the Defense Department.
Document: DOD's 2017 annual report to Congress on China
Missile defense news:
Missile defense advocates highlight recent test in arguing for larger budget
Missile defense boosters in Congress are using last week's successful test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system to push for more spending on anti-missile technology.
MDA dials back Aegis BMD interceptor procurement forecast in FY-18 spending plan
The Missile Defense Agency has once again delayed a decision to transition Raytheon's Standard Missile-3 Block IB guided missile to full-rate production and has scrapped near-term plans to significantly increase annual purchases of the most advanced fielded Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense interceptor in its new five-year spending blueprint.
Lawmakers are considering an Air Force proposal to update the service's bomber roadmap:
Air Force floating updated bomber roadmap among lawmakers
The Air Force is "socializing" a plan among lawmakers for what it will look like to reshape its bomber fleet as the service begins to field the new B-21 Raider in the mid-2020s.
Air Force cyber news:
Air Force to stand up 39 cyber mission forces in FY-18, asks for $13M for training
Each of the Air Force's 39 new cyber mission force teams will be fully operational in fiscal year 2018, the service's secretary told the Senate Armed Services Committee this week.
News from this week's Inside the Army:
Army issues notice on JMR TD mission systems architecture effort
The Army is seeking industry input on the mission systems architecture demonstration component of a key aviation science and technology effort, according to a solicitation on Federal Business Opportunities.
Army issues RFIs for assured PNT initiatives
The Army released multiple requests for information for its assured position, navigation and timing program, designed to help the service expand its PNT capabilities during a time when the service is building its anti-access and area denial capabilities.