The INSIDER daily digest -- May 6, 2019

By John Liang / May 6, 2019 at 2:23 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage from the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space conference, Pentagon supply-chain security concerns, the Air Force's launch services request for proposals and more.

The Navy's top uniformed officer spoke this morning on his service's about-face on retiring an aircraft carrier early:

Richardson: 'Environment' required Truman retirement reversal

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson today said the "environment" indicated the Navy should overturn its decision to retire a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier nearly two decades early.

Navy leaders won't reveal results of a high-tech artillery fly-off:

Guided artillery fly-off from Navy 5-inch gun informing new NSFS analysis

The Navy last summer conducted a fly-off of three different long-range, satellite-guided rounds originally designed for ground forces as part of a continuing analysis to give service leaders options for how to extend the reach of the 5-inch guns on destroyers and cruisers to best support Marine Corps operations ashore.

Inside Defense takes a deep dive into military supply-chain security:

Pentagon struggles to balance supply-chain security concerns with commercial innovation push

The Pentagon has moved in recent years to better secure key technologies from potential adversaries like China, but those efforts are increasingly coming into conflict with the Defense Department's attempts to work with commercial businesses.

A launch services request for proposals came out late Friday, despite some in Congress and industry pushing for a delay:

Air Force releases launch services RFP; concerns about competition remain

The Air Force has formally released a request for proposals to buy launch services, setting in motion a competition that will shape the future government launch market.

Twenty-five House lawmakers and three senators are requesting answers on why the Pentagon canceled a special contract with an independent, self-selecting group of scientists:

Lawmakers press Pentagon on decision to cut ties with JASON scientists

House and Senate lawmakers are pressing acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan on the Pentagon's decision to abruptly end its long-term contract with the group of scientists known as "JASON."

Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord appeared alongside members of the Defense Innovation Board late last week to brief the press on recommendations in the final Software Acquisition and Practices Study submitted to Congress:

Pentagon asking Congress for new appropriations rules for software

Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord said the Defense Department is asking Congress to create new appropriations rules for the development and procurement of software, which would begin with pilot programs in fiscal year 2020 and transition to a new process in FY-21.

The Navy's prototype SPY-6(V)1 radar is a lot more sensitive than originally thought:

Navy determines SPY-6 radar three times stronger than original requirement

The Navy is confronting a welcome challenge -- what to do with a new radar that is three times better than expected. Government testers recently completed developmental evaluation of the SPY-6(V)1 radar and concluded the new, Raytheon-built sensor is nearly 100 times more sensitive than the legacy SPY-1 radar, built by Lockheed Martin.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Berger, tapped to become the service's next commandant, was on Capitol Hill last week:

Berger: Marine Corps 'not sized' to achieve National Defense Strategy

The Marine Corps is not currently "sized, structured, and resourced" to fully achieve the Trump administration's new National Defense Strategy, according to the general tapped to serve as the next commandant.

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