The INSIDER daily digest -- Nov. 15, 2024

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Navy submarines, the Defense Innovation Unit seeking ways to bolster the domestic supply chain and more.

We start off with some submarine news:

Navy plans to extend Virginia submarine program to Block VIII before transition to SSN(X)

The Navy plans to build an eighth block of its Virginia-class submarine program before transitioning to the next-generation SSN(X) vessel in the early 2040s, according to Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Director Adm. William Houston.

Navy 'finishing up' contract negotiations for FY-24 Virginia subs despite $1.95B funding shortfall

The Navy is "finishing up contract negotiations" for Block V Virginia-class submarines Baltimore (SSN-812) and Atlanta (SSN-813), service officials said today, despite Congress' refusal to provide an additional $1.95 billion to cover cost growth in the program.

Aditi Kumar, deputy director for strategy, policy and national security partnerships at the Defense Innovation Unit, said the Replicator project should show China at the United States is serious about building the capacity and agility the military industrial base:

DIU targeting U.S. industrial base expansion to deter China

The Defense Innovation Unit is pushing to rapidly expand the Pentagon's domestic supply chain to better deter China, according to senior DIU officials, who highlighted ongoing work with the Replicator drone program and other efforts.

A look at Air Force modernization prospects in the wake of Republicans taking control of the Senate next year:

As Senate flips to GOP control, Wicker's defense policy bill plan may help Air Force's affordability problem

The possible ascendance of Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) to the chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee could be a turning point in Air Force modernization efforts as the ranking member has pushed for boosting the existing topline for national defense spending by billions of dollars to ensure legacy and new platforms can rule the air domain.

Speaking Wednesday at the Naval Submarine League Symposium, Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker, program executive officer for attack submarines, suggested the weld issue is the result of a relatively new and inexperienced submarine industrial base workforce:

Navy nearly done reviewing suspected faulty welds

The Navy expects to complete an initial review of all the suspected faulty welds on aircraft carriers and submarines by the end of December, according to service officials, who said they have already inspected over 90% of these suspicious welds.