The INSIDER daily digest -- Nov. 8, 2023

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on production of 155mm artillery rounds, the Navy planning a service life extension for its Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and more.

Since the beginning of the year, the Army has been increasing its production of 155mm rounds, due initially to the Ukraine war. Service acquisition chief Doug Bush told reporters during a roundtable at the Pentagon Tuesday that as it stands, Congress has given the Army “a path” to produce 75,000 to 80,000 rounds per month:

Bush: Without supplemental funding, U.S. won't reach artillery ramp-up goal

Army acquisition chief Doug Bush said Tuesday that the more than $3 billion designated for increased 155mm artillery production and modernization of production facilities will be required if the service is to meet its goal of producing 100,000 rounds per month by late 2025.

In September, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said the Navy is prepared to lengthen the lifespan of select Ohio vessels to prevent capability gaps if the Columbia program experiences delivery delays. That appears to be happening now:

Navy planning Ohio service life extension to mitigate risk as Columbia construction continues

The Navy plans to extend the service life of the ballistic missile submarine Alaska (SSBN-732), the first of five Ohio-class boats that could receive life extensions to reduce the risk of gaps appearing in the fleet as next-generation Columbia-class submarines come online.

The Oct. 24 launch of a Standard Missile-6 from a containerized launcher on the deck of the Littoral Combat Ship Savannah (LCS-28) in the Eastern Pacific implied potential for fitting a Tomahawk missile on such a vessel:

Navy thinking about Tomahawk-armed LCS after experimental SM-6 launch success

The Navy is entertaining the idea of increasing the offensive strike capability for Littoral Combat Ships after indirectly demonstrating the ability last month to fire a Tomahawk from the ship class -- a move that would add new punch and relevance for LCS, originally designed for shore-hugging missions, in a fight against a near-peer adversary.

How long will Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-AL) hold on all military nominations last?

Tuberville now holding 452 defense nominations

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks called on the Senate today to work quickly to override Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) monthslong military nomination blockade, which is now impacting 452 nominees.

Defense contractor groups are pointing out problems with the Pentagon's controlled unclassified information rules and how they relate to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program:

Defense groups raise concerns to ONCD over CUI in push for regulatory harmonization

Industry groups representing the defense industrial base are highlighting inconsistencies across the federal government over regulations addressing the handling of controlled unclassified information and potential impacts from the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, in filings to the Office of the National Cyber Director.