The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 1, 2020

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Defense Department's latest annual report on Chinese military capabilities, the Navy's reorganization of its R&D enterprise, a new Air Force strategy paper and more.

We start off with the Pentagon's annual report to Congress on China's military capabilities:

Pentagon finds China outpacing U.S. in shipbuilding and missile tech

China is "is already ahead of the United States" in shipbuilding, missile technology and integrated air defense systems, according to the Pentagon's latest annual report on Chinese military strength.

Document: DOD's 2020 report on China

Inside Defense recently obtained a memo on the Navy's reorganization of its R&D enterprise:

Navy's CNR, N94 no longer dual-hatted by a single admiral

Top Navy officials last month determined that two senior billets, charged with directing the service's $2 billion research and development enterprise, should no longer be "dual-hatted" by a single two-star admiral, according to a memorandum obtained by Inside Defense.

Document: Navy memo on reorganized R&D enterprise

The Air Force's chief of staff released a new strategy paper this week:

Air Force chief lays out vision to accelerate change, foreshadows force structure, program cuts

In a new strategy paper released Monday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown appears to build on his predecessor's drive to divest from legacy programs and reinvest in modernized, networked capabilities, saying the service has a "unique, but limited" opportunity to make significant changes to prepare to counter future threats.

Document: Air Force 'Accelerate, Change or Lose' strategy paper

Lockheed Martin this week received a $187.5 million award and York Space Systems a $94 million contract for each to build 10 Space Development Agency transport layer satellites:

SDA selects Lockheed, York Space Systems to build first 20 transport satellites

The Space Development Agency on Monday awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin and Denver-based York Space Systems to develop the first 20 satellites of its transport layer, slated to be developed and launched in two years.

Inside Defense recently chatted with AFWERX Director Col. Nathan Diller:

AFWERX explores more programs while rushing eVTOL sector to market

AFWERX is considering launching more programs in dual-use technology sectors while also eyeing export options for its inaugural Agility Prime effort that's pushing to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing providers to market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.