Friday, April 19, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024
This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance fighter aircraft, missile defense radars, the disputed headquarters of U.S. Space Command and more.
The Air Force's top civilian spoke to the media during a Defense Writers Group breakfast this morning:
Kendall: NGAD will avoid 'acquisition malpractice' of F-35
As the Next Generation Air Dominance platform moves toward the engineering and manufacturing development phase, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Monday the service will refine the acquisition process to avoid the "malpractice" of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
A recent Government Accountability Office report "addresses the extent to which [the Missile Defense Agency] (1) achieved its fiscal year 2022 baseline delivery goals and (2) completed its testing planned for fiscal year 2022":
GAO: DOD at risk of accepting huge, new homeland defense radar before verifying it works
The U.S. military is at risk of taking ownership of the Long Range Discrimination Radar -- a massive new sensor in the middle of Alaska intended to strengthen defenses against a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile strike -- before fully validating its detection capabilities with target flight tests over the Pacific Ocean.
Document: GAO report on missile defense deliveries and testing
The Air Force's decision on where to locate U.S. Space Command's headquarters has drawn increasing congressional concern:
Rogers wants records preserved in SPACECOM HQ decision
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) wants the Pentagon to preserve all documentation concerning the selection of a location for U.S. Space Command headquarters, a controversial issue dating to the final days of the Trump administration that has now become a high-profile political battle.
Document: Rogers letter on SPACECOM HQ
A Pentagon legislative proposal submitted late last week seeks congressional permission for multiyear procurement of Virginia-class submarines:
Citing essential cost savings, DOD seeks multiyear authority for block VI Virginia submarines
The Defense Department is asking Congress to authorize the use of multiyear procurement for 10 block VI Virginia-class submarines, indicating the resulting cost savings are necessary to meeting the Navy's budget estimates.
Document: DOD's fourth to 11th FY-24 legislative proposal packages
In a recent letter to congressional appropriators, a bipartisan group of lawmakers calls for fully funding several Marine Corps weapon system programs:
Key lawmakers urge funding support for Marine Corps
A bipartisan group of 14 lawmakers who are members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees urged congressional defense appropriators this week to fully fund critical Marine Corps programs spanning the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar and a 31-minimum for amphibious vessels that include medium landing ships (LSMs).
Document: Lawmakers' letter on Marine Corps funding