The INSIDER daily digest -- Oct. 22, 2020

By John Liang / October 22, 2020 at 1:53 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a U-2 aircraft software breakthrough, the Space Force's nascent acquisition hub, defense cybersecurity and more.

Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper revealed on social media earlier this week that the service improved automatic target recognition algorithms on the 1950s-era, intelligence-gathering U-2 aircraft during an Oct. 16 flight:

U-2 software breakthrough opens door to AI-boosted aerial surveillance missions

The Pentagon made significant headway advancing its surveillance capabilities last week when the Air Force updated software on a U-2 Dragon Lady mid-flight for the first time -- opening the door to greater use of data streaming and machine learning aboard aircraft during spy missions.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond spoke this week during the Space and Missile Systems Center's space industry day:

Space Force close to completing plan for new AQ hub, eyes standup next spring

The Space Force expects to begin standing up a new Space Systems Center next spring and will complete the initial plan for the new acquisition hub within the next month, according to Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond.

Some cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

DOD to incorporate CMMC requirements into 15 Pentagon contracts in year one

The Defense Department is in the process of determining which contracts will be featured in the first-year rollout of its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, according to leading Pentagon acquisition officials.

TRANSCOM Commander Gen. Steve Lyons announced earlier this month that his organization has signed Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with SpaceX and XArc -- a space architecture and engineering consulting company -- to help build a business case for how DOD might leverage the point-to-point space transport capabilities being developed by companies like SpaceX:

AFRL, TRANSCOM aim to move quickly to leverage commercial rocket cargo capability

As the Air Force Research Laboratory and U.S. Transportation Command work with industry to better understand how the Defense Department might leverage a future commercial space cargo transport capability, one of the primary imperatives has been to ensure DOD is the first customer in line when companies begin to offer it.

More coverage of this month's Association of the United States Army annual conference:

Army sustainment leaders seeking to embrace 'revolutionary' changes

The commanding general of Army Combined Arms Support Command last week laid out four sustainment goals the service has set to meet requirements growth projected for 2028.

Army officials offer glimpse into Project Convergence 2021

The Army in September wrapped up its first Project Convergence demonstration, a sensor-to-shooter learning campaign exploring the service's role in the Air Force-led Joint All-Domain Command and Control effort, and now service leaders are planning for next year’s experiment.

(Follow Inside Defense's complete coverage of the AUSA meeting here.)

The House Armed Services Committee's top Democrat spoke to reporters during a virtual press conference this week:

Smith sees 'big fight coming,' but bets on flat defense spending if Dems win November trifecta

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said today he remains "unconvinced" by the liberal wing of his party pushing for major cuts to the Pentagon, but stressed he is open to the debate if Democrats win unified control of the federal government.

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