The INSIDER daily digest -- Nov. 2, 2023

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's KC-46A airborne refueling tanker program, the newly minted House speaker floating an idea to keep the government open beyond the current continuing resolution and more.

The Air Force is working on a plan for the Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness certification of "commercial-off-the-shelf cameras" for the KC-46A's Remote Vision System 2 which is the "final critical action item" that, once approved, will complete the system's critical design review:

Air Force to complete KC-46A's RVS 2.0 critical design review before end of year

The Air Force is expecting to close the KC-46A's Remote Vision System 2.0 critical design review before the end of the calendar year, a service spokeswoman told Inside Defense.

The House's recently elected speaker is floating a new idea to keep the government open beyond the current continuing resolution:

Johnson floats idea of 'laddered' stopgap funding to keep government open

Newly minted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said today that among Republican lawmakers there is growing recognition Congress needs to pass another stopgap funding patch to avert a government shutdown in two weeks, adding the GOP is considering a "laddered" continuing resolution that would involve individual appropriations bills.

HII executives discussed the company's quarterly earnings this morning:

HII exceeds annual hiring goal with over 5,000 new personnel

Shipbuilder HII has exceeded its annual hiring goal with over 5,000 new hires through the third quarter of 2023, according to company executives, who said they are still working to improve retention rates.

New legislation would prohibit the federal government from using U.S. taxpayer dollars to purchase commercial drones from countries like China:

House lawmakers propose bill to ban federal drone purchases from China

Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced a bipartisan bill today that would ban the federal government from buying commercial drones made in countries, like China, that are listed as possible national security threats.

Document: American Security Drone Act of 2023

Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated a 5G network:

Lockheed touts successful 5G demo with commercial tech companies

Lockheed Martin today announced the completion of a successful demonstration of its Hybrid 5G-Tactical Mesh Network, noting new collaboration with leading commercial technology companies like Microsoft, Verizon and Intel, partnerships Lockheed's CEO recently told House lawmakers will be vital for the future of the defense industry.