The INSIDER daily digest -- May 17, 2019

By John Liang / May 17, 2019 at 2:26 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle program, an imminent Ground Based Strategic Deterrent request for proposals, an "Allied Prototyping Initiative" and much more.

The Army held an unmanned combat vehicle rodeo this week at Texas A&M University's RELLIS Campus:

Six companies, 10 vehicles saddle up in Texas for RCV rodeo

The Army's unmanned combat vehicle rodeo in Texas included six companies, some of which offered more than one candidate, putting 10 robotic systems through their paces in a technological maturity assessment for the Robotic Combat Vehicle program.

Keep an eye out for the Air Force's Ground Based Strategic Deterrent request for proposals, due out this summer:

New nuke engineering and manufacturing RFP expected in July

The Air Force anticipates releasing a request for proposals in July to launch the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the nuclear triad’s intercontinental ballistic missile replacement program.

DOD's R&E office wants to use a new initiative to partner with allies on key developments, especially those related to Pentagon technology chief Mike Griffin's top 10 technology modernization priorities:

Pentagon to prototype key technologies with allies through new initiative

The Defense Department's research and engineering arm has established an "Allied Prototyping Initiative" to collaborate with foreign partners on DOD's top technology goals, including hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The Air Force is in the early stages of implementing its VAULT -- visible, accessible, understandable, linked, trusted -- data framework that is intended for cloud-based analytics tools:

Air Force CDO in early stages of VAULT data framework, releases reference architecture

An effort is underway in the Air Force to shift data analytics from restricted and disaggregated projects to a shared ecosystem with potential implications for the way the service makes decisions about investments, training, logistics and finances.

A new bill introduced by the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee is focused on getting DOD to implement rapid prototyping and fielding authorities:

Thornberry's new bill would pressure DOD to deliver acquisition reforms

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) has drafted a defense acquisition reform bill that would fence Pentagon funding until the department begins implementing reform measures already on the books.

The Air Force is planning to team with the Missile Defense Agency on the Extended Range Weapon -- dubbed ERWn -- in fiscal year 2019 in direct support of the new National Defense Strategy:

Air Force, MDA eye kinetic boost-phase interceptor in new $661M project

The Air Force has started a rapid-prototyping project to develop a new guided-missile interceptor designed to be fired from fighter aircraft to chase down and destroy enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles immediately after launch during the boost phase of flight, a capability that -- if it works -- could deliver a powerful new layer to the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Alan Shaffer spoke at a U.S.-Sweden defense industry conference in Washington this week:

DOD developing new guidance for international arms cooperation

The Defense Department's acquisition and sustainment office is drafting new guidance for international arms cooperation with nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

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