Saturday, May 24, 2025
Saturday, May 24, 2025
This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest begins with a Pentagon review of existing advisory boards, some thoughts on keeping DOD software buys simple, the Navy testing some underwater vessels, Navy amphibious ship requirements news, ‘Signalgate’, and more.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office is looking at the number and function of Pentagon advisory boards:
Pentagon launches review of advisory boards
The Defense Department has paused the work of its advisory boards pending a 45-day review, though a committee dedicated to military diversity, equity and inclusion has already been terminated, according to a new memo from Joe Kasper, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Some comments from analysts on how DOD buys software programs:
Think tankers urge DOD to keep software procurement simple
A panel of think tank analysts want the Pentagon to think more simply about software acquisition, according to a report released this week.
The Navy has set up an underwater course to test out some of its unmanned systems:
Navy uses underwater course to test-run UUVs, preps for more deployments next year
As a variety of unmanned underwater vehicles are prepped for deployment in the next year, the Navy has implemented a “confidence course” to test-run UUVs -- a course that has held dozens of runs in the past year, according to an official.
A Virginia senator is looking at how ‘ready’ the Navy’s amphibious ships are:
Congress may look to tighten amphib readiness requirements in future authorization legislation
Congress may tighten amphibious warship readiness requirements in future authorization legislation to ensure vessels sidelined by extended maintenance problems are not designated “operational” by the Navy and counted toward the service’s legal requirement to maintain a minimum of 31 amphibious vessels, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said yesterday.
The Space Force has made a new rocket available for launch missions:
Space Force certified ULA’s Vulcan for NSSL
The Space Force has certified United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for National Security Space Launch missions, the service announced today, ending the lengthy delays that had plagued the program.
DOD is looking for some ‘out of the box’ thinking for missile defense efforts:
Pentagon invites nontraditional industry players to help build next-gen missile shield
The Pentagon is opening the door to a broader swath of U.S. industry to accelerate the development of a next-generation missile defense architecture -- an initiative that could dramatically reshape the nation’s approach to countering strategic missile threats from Russia, China and other adversaries.
The Senate Armed Services Committee wants answers on ‘Signalgate’:
Senior Senators want Pentagon IG to investigate ‘Signalgate’
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) want the Pentagon’s inspector general to conduct an expedited investigation of the Signal group text in which senior Trump administration officials inadvertently shared plans related to an airstrike against Houthi militants with a journalist.