The INSIDER daily digest -- March 8, 2021

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on an independent technical assessment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, next steps for the Space Development agency and more.

We start off with some F-35 news:

Independent F-35 technical assessment to shape revised program schedule, FRP review date

The Pentagon has turned to software engineers at three different universities to conduct an independent technical assessment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, a move that signals failure of a 2012 recovery plan for the fifth-generation fighter in the wake of a December decision to indefinitely postpone a full-rate production review required no later than this month.

Smith says it's time to 'cut our losses' on F-35 'rathole'

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said today it is time for Congress and the Pentagon to begin a debate to "cut our losses" on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, meaning the most expensive weapons program in U.S. history could be nearing a major inflection point.

The Space Development Agency expects to release a request for proposals for Tranche 1 this summer and have it on contract before the end of the year:

SDA warfighting council to finalize Tranche 1 minimum viable product this month

The Space Development Agency's warfighting council will meet at the end of this month to discuss the key capabilities for the next tranche of the agency's proliferated space architecture.

The Marine Corps' CH-53K helicopter is set to replace the service's legacy CH-53Es, but the program has faced lengthy delays and ballooning program costs due to technical issues:

GAO: CH-53K program faces further cost increases, schedule not 'fully credible'

The Marine Corps' CH-53K helicopter program faces further cost increases due to the overlap between testing and procurement and an unreliable schedule, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday.

Document: GAO report on the CH-53K program

The Army's tactical wheeled vehicles fleet may not get the funding it needs:

Army tactical vehicle funding likely to fall below minimum levels, PEO says

The Army's tactical wheeled vehicles fleet is unlikely to get the funding it needs to meet acquisition objectives in the next budget, the service's program executive officer for combat support and combat service support said March 4.