The INSIDER daily digest -- Oct. 14, 2021

By John Liang / October 14, 2021 at 1:44 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II, a proposed Air Force advanced tactical trainer aircraft and more.

Putting the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II on Navy Super Hornet fighter aircraft has been a challenge for the service:

Weather, technical difficulties causing SDB Increment II F/A-18E/F integration delay

The Navy continues to face setbacks fielding the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet due to weather delays and technical challenges, a program spokesman told Inside Defense Tuesday.

An Air Combat Command spokeswoman has confirmed to Inside Defense that a request for information released this week was meant to address Reforge requirements and “modernize the training pipeline and ecosystem for development of [Combat Air Force] pilots”:

ACC: Air Force RFI for tactical training jet aims to address Reforge requirements

After canceling an open solicitation to industry this summer aimed at supporting a new concept for streamlining pilot training, Project Reforge, the Air Force this week initiated the acquisition process for a new advanced training jet that would meet the requirements of Reforge and possibly serve as an adversary air platform and tactical aircraft surrogate.

Document: Air Force RFI for new advanced tactical trainer

More coverage from this week's AUSA convention:

Lockheed says PrSM sets new distance record, mum about 499km objective

Lockheed Martin is touting a "record-breaking" flight of the Precision Strike Missile but will not disclose whether the new surface-to-surface round exceeded a 499-kilometer objective during an Oct. 13 test over the Pacific Ocean.

Army developing implementation strategy for new network plan

The Army expects to publish an implementation strategy for its newly released Unified Network Plan, according to service officials.

Document: Army's 2021 unified network plan

(Read our complete coverage of the AUSA convention.)

The Air Force's former top software official hopes the service will replace him soon:

Chaillan pushes for Air Force chief software successor, calling role 'critical' for U.S. future

More than a month after posting a pointed resignation message on his LinkedIn page slamming the Defense Department’s approach to IT modernization, the Air Force’s first chief software officer, Nicolas Chaillan, is hopeful the service will hire a successor for the role he described as "critical for the future of our nation."

212948