The INSIDER daily digest -- March 7, 2025

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Defense Department software procurement, the Space Force's program to augment missile warning from geosynchronous Earth orbit and more.

In a memo issued this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs "all DOD Components to adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred pathway for all software development components of business and weapon system programs in the [Defense] Department":

Pentagon moves to streamline and scale new software procurement

The Defense Department is being directed to adopt special contracting pathways for rapidly acquiring software, according to a new memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Document: Hegseth memo on software

More coverage from this week's AFA Warfare conference in Colorado:

Next Gen OPIR GEO readying for launch this year, needs ULA's Vulcan rocket certified

DENVER -- The first satellites of the Space Force's program to augment missile warning from geosynchronous Earth orbit will be ready to launch this year, a top official said this week, but they will need the United Launch Alliance's rocket to be certified to launch such a mission.

(Read our full AFA Warfare Symposium coverage)

Senior Pentagon acquisition officials have begun implementing changes to the way the department does business in compliance with new executive orders:

DOD launches contracting review, freezes civilian purchase cards to comply with DOGE order

The Defense Department, in compliance with President Trump's executive order implementing the "DOGE" initiative, is reviewing its contracting operations and policies and has suspended civilian government purchase cards typically used to procure items priced at $10,000 or less, according to new memos released by senior Pentagon officials.

Document: DOD memo on contract process review and warrant appointments

 

Document: DOD memo on use of government purchase cards

Elbridge Colby submitted answers to advance policy questions to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week regarding his nomination to be under secretary of defense for policy:

U.S. should stay committed to AUKUS as long as it can meet domestic needs first, senior Pentagon nominee says

As defense policy shifts under the Trump administration, the United States should remain committed to the submarine-focused AUKUS security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom as long as U.S. industry can build enough attack boats to meet domestic needs first, the nominee for a senior Pentagon post indicated this week.

Document: Colby's USD(P) nomination APQs

The Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit have selected Zone 5 Technologies and Anduril Industries to move forward in the second phase of the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, which serves as a testing ground for new military technologies, including highly autonomous, low-cost air-launched munitions:

Air Force advances collaborative autonomy with new low-cost, air-launched munitions

The U.S. military is taking a key step forward in its pursuit of affordable, high-tech weaponry by advancing a new class of precision-guided munitions that can operate collaboratively in real-time, leveraging advanced autonomy and artificial intelligence.

Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein spoke this week at the Reagan National Security Innovation Base Summit in Washington:

Space Force looks to trade legacy systems for new 'protect and defend' capabilities

The Space Force vice chief said Wednesday that the service is reviewing opportunities to divest legacy systems amid a Pentagon-wide effort to reallocate 8% of the fiscal year 2026 budget, though new investments are being eyed for the "protect and defend" mission.

More summit coverage:

DIU official teases new marketplace initiative under 'Blue Manufacturing'

The Defense Innovation Unit is set to launch a digital "marketplace" in the coming weeks where commercial defense technology vendors can seek partners from a group of pre-approved commercial manufacturing companies, enabling the scaled production of their solutions, a DIU official told attendees during the Reagan National Security Innovation Base Summit on Wednesday.

U.S. Transportation Command Commander Gen. Randall Reed testified about his organization before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week:

TRANSCOM commander asks lawmakers to raise limit on foreign, used vessel purchases

The limit on buying used and foreign vessels should be raised even higher, Gen. Randall Reed, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, told lawmakers Wednesday.

Document: TRANSCOM's FY-26 posture statement