The INSIDER daily digest -- Oct. 3, 2017

The Combat Rescue Helicopter, the SECDEF on Capitol Hill and more highlight this Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest.

Sikorsky is figuring out how to upgrade the Combat Rescue Helicopter:

Sikorsky to explore IR countermeasures, DVE safety as part of Block 1 CRH upgrades

Sikorsky is preparing to look at when and how to upgrade its HH-60W after it is fielded as the Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter, in a study of potential Block 1 capabilities that could last up to a year.

Document: Air Force degraded visual environment system notice

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is testifying on Capitol Hill today:

Mattis: New 'conditions-based' strategy could help break stalemate in Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told senators Tuesday the Trump administration's new "conditions-based" strategy in Afghanistan, which calls for deploying more than 3,000 additional U.S. troops, would help break a stalemate between NATO forces and anti-government insurgents.

The Korean peninsula could come under the purview of the Army's Rapid Capabilities Office:

Army RCO could expand focus to Korean peninsula

To date, the Army's Rapid Capabilities Office has focused its efforts on Europe, but senior leaders are weighing whether to add Korea to its portfolio.

A new RAND report on Navy shipbuilding is out:

RAND: Catering to private sector may alleviate deferred ship maintenance

Being more amenable to private shipyards could alleviate the Navy's backlog of deferred ship maintenance, a new RAND Corp. report suggests.

Future Army events will see the use of upgraded humvees:

Enhanced humvees to be used in future Army events

Humvees improved by AM General's enhanced appliqué program will be used in future Army events such as the Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment in November, according to the company's executive vice president of defense.

Work on the Army's future combat vehicle proceeds apace:

Army awards NGCV prototype contract

The Army has awarded a contract for a prototyping effort expected to inform the service's future combat vehicle development efforts.

Endeavor Robotics has won an Army contract to work on mine-detection robotic systems:

Army awards Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II contract

Massachusetts-based Endeavor Robotics has been awarded a contract to develop a medium-sized robotic system capable of detecting and eliminating explosives for the Army.