The INSIDER daily digest -- Nov. 6, 2020

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy’s electric drive program, the Pentagon’s efficiency review, a big submarine contract and two Army programs aimed squarely at the service’s future operations.

The Government Accountability Office is criticizing how the Navy handled its hybrid electric drive program:

GAO: Navy suspending DDG-51 Hybrid Electric Drive program without proper analysis

The Navy suspended a program aimed at limiting energy consumption on its Arleigh Burke class of destroyers without the proper analysis to support that decision, the Government Accountability Office said Thursday.

GAO also says there are some flaws in the Pentagon’s assessment of its cost savings during a recent efficiency review:

GAO urges reform in Pentagon’s efficiency review process

The Government Accountability Office says it is unable to “assess the quality of the analysis” that led the Defense Department to claim $37 billion in efficiency-related savings because of “a lack of detailed documentation,” though it agrees DOD has made progress over previous years.

The Navy this week awarded a major contract for its newest submarine program:

Navy awards GDEB $9.47B contract mod to begin full construction of first Columbia sub

The Navy today awarded a $9.47 billion contract modification to General Dynamics Electric Boat to begin full construction on the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, averting its longstanding fear that a continuing resolution would torpedo the program’s schedule margin early on.

The Army just finished a future technologies exercise:

Second annual PNT assessment wraps up, ‘quick look’ report expected later this month

The Army yesterday completed its second annual Positioning, Navigation and Timing Assessment Exercise, where soldiers assessed technologies and systems supporting tactical space, navigation warfare and APNT to further requirement development.

And finally, the Army is seeking industry help on developing very small drones:

Army releases request for information for planned Air Launched Effects S&T effort

The Army today released a request for information for technical and cost proposals for a planned science and technology effort for Air Launched Effects, miniature drones that can perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and deliver lethal effects against threats.