The INSIDER daily digest -- May 7, 2021

By John Liang / May 7, 2021 at 2:25 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on cost increases to a Minuteman III missile component, Army hypersonics efforts, naval shipyards and more.

The Air Force told Congress last year of a $313 million net increase in MK21 fuze costs compared to the service's fiscal year 2021 budget request:

ICBM fuze modernization program reported Nunn-McCurdy breach last year

The Air Force last fall reported a Nunn-McCurdy breach in its project to replace the MK21 fuze on the Minuteman III -- which has long-exceeded its originally envisioned 10-year service life -- cost growth caused by a defective part that is requiring the redesign of several components in the Air Force Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Fuze Modernization program.

Inside Defense recently interviewed Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Martin:

Martin: Army developing command and control structures for hypersonics

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL -- The Army is evaluating how hypersonic missiles will fit within the military's command and control structures, as the service prepares to field its first battery of the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon in 2023, according to Gen. Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff of the Army.

The Army's No. 2 uniformed officer this week climbed into a Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense system prototype and saw a recorded video of the system tracking a mortar mid-air during a test:

Kord completes Directed Energy M-SHORAD prototype

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Army remains on track to field four Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense systems in fiscal year 2022, officials said during an April 29 visit by the vice chief of staff of the Army to the prime contractor for the system.

The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee held a hearing this week on Navy shipyards:

Lawmakers call for more detailed five-year shipyard improvement plan

House lawmakers today called on the Navy to provide an in-depth, shorter-term plan for its shipyard improvement work.

Document: House hearing on ship and sub maintenance

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to reporters at a Pentagon press conference this week:

Austin sees budget 'opportunities' post-Afghanistan exit

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today he believes the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan with present the Pentagon with "opportunities" to redirect spending to higher priorities.

Inside Defense this week interviewed Phil Skuta, General Dynamics' director of business development for the Marine Corps and Navy, about the company's work on the Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle competition:

General Dynamics touts experience, innovation in ARV competition

General Dynamics Land Systems is aiming to build on its technology demonstration prototype as it bids to develop and build the Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle.

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