The INSIDER daily digest -- March 4, 2024

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on amphibious ship funding, a nascent Cyber Operational Readiness Assessment program and more.

House Armed Services seapower subcommittee Chairman Trent Kelly (R-MS) and tactical air and land forces subcommittee Chairman Rob Whittman (R-VA), in a letter to the head of the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office, "underscore our shared understanding of future amphibious shipbuilding cost saving opportunities":

Lawmakers question CAPE on amphib requirement, urge multiship procurement in FY-25 budget request

In a letter addressed to the Pentagon's director of cost assessment and program evaluation, two senior members of the House Armed Services Committee urged the inclusion of multiship procurement authority for amphibious warships in the Defense Department's soon-to-be-released fiscal year 2025 budget request.

Document: Lawmakers' letter to CAPE on amphibious ship funding

Some recent cyber defense news:

New cyber operational assessment program launched

An element of U.S. Cyber Command has established a new Cyber Operational Readiness Assessment program, which aims to bolster Defense Department cybersecurity through re-occurring assessments.

CMMC accreditation body proposes changes to appeals process, conflicts-of-interest policy

The accreditation body behind the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is suggesting changes to the proposed rule to implement the major initiative, including involving the Defense Department in the assessment appeals process and establishing consistency in conflict-of-interest requirements.

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.

A new unmanned aircraft system was flown last 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.