The INSIDER daily digest -- May 1, 2023

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a Defense Science Board task force, the Navy's fiscal year 2024 budget request and more.

Pentagon research and engineering chief Heidi Shyu wants a Defense Science Board task force to identify critical materials unavailable in the United States that are required for weapon systems manufacturing and recommend any needed additions to the Defense Logistics Agency:

DOD 'refocuses' industrial base task force on supply chain security

The Pentagon's technology chief is directing a special task force to "refocus" its efforts on improving the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base, specifically for supply chain security and manufacturing issues that have already garnered the attention of senior defense officials amid ongoing efforts to supply Ukraine with weapons to defend itself against Russia.

Document: DSB 'refocused' terms of reference memo for DIB task force

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing late last week on the Navy's fiscal year 2024 budget request:

Gilday: Closer U.S. and Australian integration key to AUKUS success

A close partnership between the United States and Australian navies and industry will be key to the success of AUKUS, according to the U.S. Navy's highest-ranking officer, who emphasized the importance of Australian personnel having adequate access to U.S. facilities and information.

Gilday offers 'best military advice' for long-term shipbuilding

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday told lawmakers Friday that he supports a 30-year shipbuilding plan that calls for the service to increase to 356 crewed ships by fiscal year 2042 and to 367 crewed ships by FY-53.

Smith: House spending cap bill could threaten DOD funding

The recently passed House bill proposing steep cuts to discretionary federal spending could result in reduced funding for the Pentagon, according to House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), who said the bill could put Navy leadership in an "impossible position."

The Pentagon has awarded contracts to General Electric, Carbon-Carbon Advanced Technologies and Northrop Grumman for hypersonic missile components:

DOD makes targeted investments to grow U.S. hypersonics industrial base

The Defense Department has made three awards to companies intended to strengthen the supply chain for hypersonic missiles.

Executives from L3Harris Technologies spoke about their company's latest earnings last week:

L3Harris confident it can close Aerojet Rocketdyne acquisition this year

L3Harris Technologies executives are confident that the company's $4.7 billion acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne will go through this year despite a delay last month, CEO Chris Kubasik said Friday.

The annual Quad-A conference took place last week:

Army leaders expect milestone B for FLRAA in third quarter of FY-24

NASHVILLE, TN -- Army leaders said this week they expect the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft to enter milestone B in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024.

Read our full Quad-A coverage.