The INSIDER daily digest -- March 1, 2024

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an Air Force unmanned aircraft system that was flown for the first time this week, plus coverage of a hearing that featured the head of U.S. Strategic Command and more.

A new unmanned aircraft system was flown this week:

Air Force flew XQ-67A combat sensing drone for first time

The Air Force Research Laboratory on Wednesday flew General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' XQ-67A autonomous sensing aircraft for the first time, paving the way for "other aircraft 'species' to be rapidly replicated," the service said in a news release.

Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, testified this week before the Senate Armed Services Committee:

STRATCOM eyes re-MIRVing current ICBM, 'uploading' as hedge against modernization delays

The head of the U.S. military's nuclear strike forces believes the time has come to consider re-outfitting Minuteman III missiles with more than one warhead, a move that could roll back arms control measures that removed two of the three multiple independent targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV)s that were originally emplaced across the ICBM fleet.

Cotton: Independent analysis of Sentinel overruns could delay program

An independent analysis of the cost overruns tied to the intercontinental ballistic missile modernization program could delay an effort the Defense Department sees as vital to nuclear deterrence, U.S. Strategic Command Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton warned senators this week.

Document: Senate hearing on STRATCOM, SPACECOM FY-25 budgets

The Defense Department needs to make digital transformation a top priority:

DBB says Pentagon not ready for a 'digital ecosystem'

A new Defense Business Board study released today asserts that the establishment of a Pentagon "digital ecosystem" should be a national security imperative.

One Nation Innovation, a non-profit organization comprised of former Defense Department acquisition and intelligence community professionals, this week posted an open call for solutions on the C-UAS Solutions Marketplace focused on procuring electro-optical/infrared technologies:

Pentagon's C-UAS Solutions Marketplace seeking innovative counter-drone tech

The Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Solutions Marketplace, a digital acquisition platform for C-UAS innovation between government, industry and academia, is seeking hardware or software solutions to advance electro-optical/infrared technologies.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have continuing coverage of industry reaction to the Pentagon's proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

Industry groups raise concerns over CMMC compliance costs, program capacity needs

A coalition of industry groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is seeking flexibility when it comes to implementing requirements in the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, arguing that it is needed to address compliance costs as work to finalize regulations gets underway.