The INSIDER daily digest -- May 12, 2017

A potential multibillion-dollar Patriot missile sale to the UAE, OCO funding, the CH-53 helo program and a slew of Air Force news highlight this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest.

The United Arab Emirates could be getting $2 billion worth of Patriot missiles:

UAE eyeing $2 billion purchase of Lockheed, Raytheon Patriot missiles

The Pentagon has notified Congress of a potential $2 billion sale to the United Arab Emirates of Lockheed Martin- and Raytheon-built, air-defense capabilities -- Patriot PAC-3 and GEM-T missiles -- a package that would bolster the Middle East nation's ability to defend against regional threats, including Iran.

The nominee to become DOD's comptroller testified before Congress this week:

Pentagon comptroller nominee supports existing OCO policy

The nominee to become the Pentagon's next comptroller concedes that use of the Overseas Contingency Operations account has become "complicated," but told lawmakers this week he believes any shortcomings cannot be addressed until Congress repeals the spending caps mandated by the 2011 Bipartisan Budget Act.

Document: Senate hearing on CAPE, comptroller nominations

Keep an eye out for whether the CH-53K helicopter program stays on schedule:

Pentagon program analysts warn CH-53K helicopter is falling behind schedule

While the Navy maintains the CH-53K program is on schedule, a key Pentagon office says the heavy-lift helicopter won't be ready to deploy until a full year after the service's planned timing.

Air Force news:

Air Force expects refined cost estimate for ESBMC2 this fiscal year

As the Air Force continues developmental planning for a new Enterprise Space Battle Management Command and Control system, the service expects to have an updated cost estimate by the end of the fiscal year.

FY-18 budget will offer 'measured steps' to integrate space resiliency

The Defense Department has spent the last several years shaping a plan to improve resilience across the space enterprise and officials said this week the fiscal year 2018 budget request will include "measured steps" toward integrating that strategy.

Air Force team will recommend plan to boost ISR support for space ops

The Air Force has commissioned a task force to evaluate its requirements for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in support of space operations.

Spending bill allows JSTARS program more time to reach EMD phase

The fiscal year 2017 omnibus spending bill signed into law last week tells the Air Force it must move to the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System recapitalization program three months later than House lawmakers originally wanted.

AMRAAM orders could shrink before upgrades are fielded, Raytheon says

A Raytheon official says the Air Force is mulling how to procure Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles while the service waits for the company to finish upgrades.