The INSIDER daily digest -- March 5, 2025

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on efforts to prop up the U.S. shipbuilding industry, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a recent "report card" on defense innovation and more.

The U.S. shipbuilding industry is struggling to meet cost and schedule targets on most of the Navy’s surface ship and submarine programs:

Trump announces new White House shipbuilding office, tax incentives for industry

The Trump administration is creating a new "office of shipbuilding" within the White House, President Trump announced last night during his address to Congress, saying the office will offer unspecified tax incentives intended to revitalize the United States shipbuilding industry.

Our latest coverage from this year's AFA Warfare Symposium in Colorado:

Lockheed: F-35s to feature some Block 4 capabilities this summer with new TR-3 release

DENVER -- Lockheed Martin will take the next step this summer in its yearslong sprint to outfit the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with new mission system hardware, a company executive told Inside Defense, when the aircraft is slated to get another Technology Refresh-3 configuration release and early Block 4 capabilities.

Optical terminals integral part of upcoming MW/MT satellites

DENVER -- Optical communications terminals, or laser sensors, are a needed capability for missile warning/missile tracking satellites going forward because they are faster, smaller and need less power than the capabilities currently in use, a Space Force official said today.

(Read our full AFA Warfare Symposium coverage)

The U.S. government scored "F-" again on its ability to provide adequate and reliable funding to procure and scale critical technology solutions -- its second consecutive below-failing grade in that area:

Reagan Institute 'report card' gives government another 'F-' on defense innovation

Key indicators for the defense innovation base remain at subpar levels amid another stalled appropriations cycle, but contributions from private-sector and non-governmental players prove "there's reason for some optimism and enthusiasm," according to Roger Zakheim, director at the Ronald Reagan Institute.

From bureaucratic inefficiencies to leadership voids and funding uncertainties, skeptics warn that without fundamental changes, the Trump administration's proposed Golden Dome missile defense system could falter before it even takes off:

Ambitious Golden Dome domestic air defense plan faces early expert scrutiny

The Pentagon's Golden Dome for America missile defense initiative is encountering sharp criticism from former military officials and defense experts who argue the project is at risk of repeating past mistakes.

The anticipated Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band contract consists of a base for Lot VI and options for Lots VII and VIII, which would include up to 45 shipsets -- with two pods per shipset -- and other support equipment and data for both the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force:

Navy aims to award Raytheon next three lots of NGJ-MB

The Navy intends to award Raytheon Technologies a contract for potentially three lots of its next-generation airborne electronic attack jamming system, which is set to replace the legacy ALQ-99 jamming pods on EA-18G Growlers.

The Medium Multipurpose Equipment Transport vehicle will boost "flexibility and responsiveness" of logistics operations for the Army by carrying more equipment and offering more power:

Army to bring upsized unmanned transport vehicle requirement to AROC this spring

The Army is "poised" to take a draft requirement for a medium-sized, teleoperated cargo-carrying vehicle to the Army Requirements Oversight Council for approval this spring, senior service officials announced at last week's Tactical Wheeled Vehicles Conference in Reston, VA.

Elbridge Colby was on Capitol Hill this week testifying regarding his nomination to become the Pentagon's policy chief:

Colby promises 'realistic' defense strategy backed by U.S. industrial might

Elbridge Colby, nominated by President Trump to serve as the under secretary of defense for policy, said today that developing the U.S. defense industrial base should be a key part of any new National Defense Strategy that makes deterring China its No. 1 priority.

Document: Colby's USD(P) nomination APQs

MAPS Gen II, built by RTX subsidiary Collins Aerospace, gives vehicle crews access to accurate PNT data in GPS-denied or degraded zones through anti-spoofing and anti-jamming protection:

FRP approved for Army's next-gen mounted PNT system, fielding to follow

The Army announced today it has approval to kick off full-rate production for the second generation of its Mounted Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing System, marking one step closer to fielding the capability to Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.