The INSIDER daily digest -- May 14, 2025

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft, lawmakers' concerns over the reconciliation bill and more.

In an infographic posted on the social media site X, the Air Force's top uniformed officer highlighted the kinds of characteristics the NGAD family of systems will bring to the service’s future fleet to complement the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15EX Eagle II:

Air Force sets sights on more than 185 F-47s, dubbed 'stealth++'

The Air Force anticipates it will purchase more than 185 Boeing-made F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft, according to service Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) told reporters today on a Defense Writers Group call that Congressional Republicans' reconciliation bill is "an extraordinary mistake":

Senior defense Dem warns of losing lawmaker oversight via reconciliation, yearlong CR

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), an appropriator and the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said today he is concerned the GOP's reconciliation bill, though it increases funding for defense, could undermine Congress' authority and give the Pentagon a "slush fund."

A senior Republican appropriator had a similar warning:

McConnell: White House 'skinny budget' sets stage for defense investment 'cliff'

Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today said he opposes the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 defense spending request because of its reliance on a "budgetary sleight of hand" that masks a failure to pursue real and sustained growth in Pentagon buying power.

More Golden Dome coverage:

Guam's $8 billion missile shield fuels questions about Golden Dome costs

The U.S. military's top official overseeing missile defense for Guam told Congress the cost of developing a 360-degree integrated air and missile defense architecture for the Western Pacific island is approximately $8 billion, offering the first public accounting of a system Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth views as a model for Golden Dome for America.

DIA forecasts surge in adversary missile inventories by 2035, arguing Golden Dome need

A new U.S. intelligence assessment forecasts a sweeping expansion of adversary missile arsenals over the next decade, with China projected to make the most dramatic quantitative gains -- far outpacing Russia, North Korea and Iran -- in long-range and precision strike capabilities.

Document: DIA's Golden Dome threat analysis