The INSIDER daily digest -- Oct. 24, 2019

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile replacement effort, Army Futures Command, the Pentagon's fifth-generation wireless technology experimentation plan and more.

A Boeing spokeswoman confirmed to Inside Defense this week that the company has sent a GBSD stop-work order to its suppliers:

Boeing transitions GBSD employees, issues stop-work order to suppliers

Following the Air Force's decision to stop funding Boeing's contract supporting the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, the company has transitioned its employees to other internal jobs and issued a stop-work order to its suppliers.

More on the GBSD program:

Smith says he tried to ensure competition in ICBM replacement program, but was rebuffed by Boeing

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) is concerned the Air Force's $85 billion nuclear missile replacement will likely proceed with Northrop Grumman absent any competition, though he said he offered to help Boeing address its concerns about the program after the company announced it would not bid.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Bruce Jette, in a recent interview with Inside Defense, acknowledged that some have questioned the authorities of Army Futures Command chief Gen. Mike Murray, but said the worries are unfounded:

Jette: Army Futures Command and ASA(ALT) 'both have the same common goal'

While some lawmakers are concerned about how the Army's new four-star command in charge of modernization will coordinate with the service's acquisition office, the top acquisition executive said this month the relationship is going well.

The National Nuclear Security Administration found problems with energy storage components called capacitors that are used on nuclear warheads:

NNSA technical issues cause rebaselining of $2 billion ICBM fuze modernization program

The effort to replace the Mk21 reentry vehicle fuze -- intended to be deployed on the Air Force's legacy and future intercontinental ballistic missile systems -- is being rebaselined as a result of technical issues with energy storage components called capacitors.

Lisa Porter, deputy under secretary of defense for research and engineering, spoke at the annual Mobile World Congress in Los Angeles this week:

Pentagon pursues partnerships with commercial wireless industry to mitigate 5G security vulnerabilities

The Defense Department will soon release a draft request for proposals seeking feedback on its fifth-generation wireless technology experimentation plans, as DOD wants to work with commercial industry to mitigate potential vulnerabilities in future 5G networks.

Howard Berkof, the deputy program manager for unmanned maritime systems, said this week the Navy is heading toward a "common vehicle" for the Medium Unmanned Underwater Vehicle effort:

Navy to issue draft RFP for 'common' MUUV by end of calendar year

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- The Navy plans to issue a draft request for proposals for a medium unmanned underwater vehicle by the end of this calendar year.

Bob Strider, deputy director of the Army Hypersonic Project Office, spoke last week at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting:

Army eyes half-dozen hypersonic flight tests to support LRHW battery by 2023

The Army has set an "aggressive" test plan for the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon program that calls for six flights, including two executed by soldiers who will operate the first battery of the new ground-launched strategic weapon by 2023, according to a senior service official.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer this week ripped into Congress and shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries:

Spencer unloads on Congress, HII following Navy testimony on ship maintenance

A day after House lawmakers pressed two senior Navy officials on ship and submarine maintenance problems, the service's chief civilian publicly criticized Congress whom he said chose only to disparage the Navy rather than helping fix the problems.

The CEO of United Launch Alliance told reporters this week that any delay to the Air Force's Launch Services Procurement program would have implications for DOD's mandate to eliminate the use of the Russian-made RD-180 engine, which powers the company's Atlas V launch vehicle:

ULA CEO: Launch procurement delay could disrupt plan to eliminate RD-180 by 2022

United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said today that a one- to two-year delay to the Air Force's Launch Services Procurement program could create a "big problem" for the department's efforts to eliminate reliance on Russian-made rocket engines.

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee met with reporters on Capitol Hill this week to advocate for passing a fiscal year 2020 defense spending bill as soon as possible:

Thornberry says impeachment 'sucking all the oxygen out of the room' as defense legislation stalls

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) says the impeachment inquiry into President Trump's hold on Ukraine aid is "sucking all the oxygen out of the room" as lawmakers look to negotiate contentious issues in the defense authorization and appropriations bills, respectively.