The INSIDER daily digest -- May 24, 2017

Budget news continues to top this Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Following yesterday's roll-out of the fiscal year 2018 budget request, we have more news on how the budget was crafted and how it's being received:

Pentagon defends budget request amid Capitol Hill criticism

Pentagon officials this week defended the fiscal year 2018 budget request against GOP lawmakers' complaints that the request is only 3 percent more than that planned by the Obama administration.

Trump administration directs no-growth 'placeholder' defense plan, pending strategy review

The Defense Department's fiscal year 2018 budget is accompanied by a "placeholder" forecast that assumes no real growth over five years, a blueprint the Pentagon expects to update with the FY-19 budget proposal next year to reflect the results of a Trump administration-led defense strategy review, according to a senior DOD official.

We have details on the Air Force's planned boost to its Next-Generation Air Dominance effort:

Air Force details five-year, $4.5 billion plan for Next-Generation Air Dominance

The Air Force's fiscal year 2018 budget request proposes a $4.5 billion increase to its Next-Generation Air Dominance program over the next five years -- potentially lending momentum to the service's lengthy effort to develop a follow-on to the F-22.

President Trump disparaged the Navy's EMALS effort, but the service says the program is not under review:

Despite Trump's criticism, Navy advances plan to outfit future aircraft carrier fleet with EMALS

The Navy said Tuesday it would outfit its future aircraft carrier fleet with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Carrier Launching System, despite negative comments about the project from President Trump.

The Army's plan to use a wartime account for ground vehicles in Europe is generating criticism from a budget analyst:

Army seeks to use $1 billion in ERI funds to upgrade ground vehicles in FY-18

The Army is tapping a wartime account for over $1 billion to bolster its armored brigade combat teams in Europe to deter Russia. The move, however, is spurring concerns the Army is going well beyond the intended purpose of the supplemental fund.

We have more Navy and Marine Corps news from earlier this week:

Marines continue to glean lessons from deploying F-35 logistics system

The Marine Corps continues to take advantage of every opportunity to deploy the Joint Strike Fighter's logistics system because it is the "true center of gravity" for the program, according to a service official.

Marines do not have performance specification for ballistic glass

The Marine Corps does not have a performance specification for transparent armor it needs to replace on trucks throughout the tactical wheeled vehicle fleet, according to a service official.

New digital warfare office tackling naval aviation readiness

A new Navy office focused on stitching together information across various platforms and systems is taking on naval aviation readiness, one of the service's most pressing problems over the past few years.

Navy negotiating contract with Raytheon for maritime strike Tomahawk

The Navy and Raytheon are negotiating a contract to wrap up development of a multimode seeker that will allow Tomahawk missiles to strike ships.

Finally, we wrap with more Army news from earlier this week:

G-8 describes 'struggle' to keep pace with modernization needs

The Army remains challenged to maintain the relevance of its aging platforms and fund needed modernization efforts, according to the deputy chief of staff (G-8).

Army official outlines watercraft carrier replacement work

As the Army works on replacing the Landing Craft Mechanized-8 with the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light), the service has also been developing its plans for the next version of the MSV to replace the Logistics Support Vessel.

Drushal: Force structure changes have to address logistics impact

The "sustainment community is out front" in the effort to "fundamentally transform [the Army] into a leaner, more efficient force that maintains overmatch at the [brigade combat team] level," according to the service's chief of transportation.