The INSIDER daily digest -- May 6, 2020

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the new Light Amphibious Warship, defense contractor mergers and acquisitions activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

The Navy recently held a virtual industry day on the new Light Amphibious Warship program:

Navy eyes 'several digit millions' price tag for Light Amphibious Warship

The Navy wants the new Light Amphibious Warship it is pursuing to have a price tag in the "several digit millions," as the service seeks to quickly field a lower-cost amphibious vessel while it prepares for a fight in the Pacific.

The CEOs of Mercury Systems and CACI International recently talked about the mergers-and-acquisitions environment in a post-coronavirus world:

With M&A on hold, companies say they're positioning for post-pandemic market

Though many defense contractors say they're now taking a break from mergers and acquisitions, some say they expect to be able to capitalize on a wave of deals once the COVID-19 pandemic has come to an end.

Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett announced this week that a reusable spacecraft's sixth excursion, which will lift off on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, will include more experiments than any previous flight:

Air Force reveals new details about sixth X-37B mission, launching May 16

The Air Force revealed new details today about the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle's next mission, which will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, in 10 days.

The Loyal Wingman serves as the foundation for Boeing's new Airpower Teaming System and reflects the company's largest investment in an unmanned aircraft outside the United States:

Australia's Loyal Wingman offers Boeing 'different approach' to global market than USAF's R&D

While the U.S. Air Force continues research and development of low-cost attritable drones, Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force Tuesday rolled out the first prototype of their Loyal Wingman, moving closer to achieving an operational, autonomy-enabled "force multiplier" for the global defense market.

In case you missed it, the Missile Defense Agency recently launched its Next Generation Interceptor competition without first getting an independent cost estimate:

DOD launches counter-ICBM program before independent cost estimate complete

The Defense Department last month launched a major overhaul of the nation’s ballistic missile defense system without first securing an independent cost estimate, eschewing what federal auditors say is a best practice for major weapon projects.