The INSIDER daily digest -- March 29, 2018

An ongoing Air Force Scientific Advisory Board study, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and more highlight this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest.

The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board panel on "Maintaining Technology Superiority for the USAF" is slated to present its interim findings at an April 12 meeting at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM:

Advisory panel eyes options to rework Air Force's $2.5B S&T portfolio for threats in 2030s

An influential Air Force advisory panel is readying draft recommendations on how the service should adjust its science and technology program -- investments that collectively amount to $2.5 billion in the service's fiscal year 2019 budget request -- in order to maintain a technological qualitative advantage in the 2030s and beyond.

Document: AFSAB terms of reference memo for FY-18 studies

The Air Force's top uniformed officer spoke during a Defense Writers Group breakfast this morning:

Air Force wants F-35 sustainment cost to match that of legacy fighters

The Air Force would like F-35 sustainment costs to be comparable with those of legacy fighter aircraft, and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told reporters today the service is working closely with prime contractor Lockheed Martin and the Office of the Secretary of Defense to achieve the service's cost targets.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer relayed the service's surge sealift plans in a report this month to Congress:

Navy sends Congress $242 million plan to recap surge sealift

The Navy's plans to recapitalize the surge sealift force include 10-year service life extensions for select vessels, acquiring and modernizing two used vessels in the early 2020s, and implementing a common-hull design for the future fleet, according to documents viewed by Inside the Navy.

As part of the re-organization of the Pentagon's acquisition arm, DOD officials want to ensure there is the "appropriate governance around new or enhanced authorities":

Pentagon seeks 'governance' model for increasingly popular OTAs

The Pentagon wants to govern the use of other transaction agreements so they're not misused without stymieing the speed and flexibility of the increasingly popular contracting method, according to a Defense Department official.

Continued coverage of this year's AUSA Global Force Symposium:

McCarthy: Army takes 'methodical' approach with maximum 'flexibility' for Futures Command

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Army Futures Command is intended to provide a coherent vision for force modernization, without which the service has experienced "a lot of confusion" and failed to capitalize fully on its investments, according to the service's under secretary.