The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 16, 2019

By John Liang / September 16, 2019 at 2:13 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the Senate Appropriations Committee's latest defense spending bill, plus the Israeli Iron Dome air and missile defense system and more.

We start off with more coverage of Senate appropriators' FY-20 defense spending bill:

Senate looks to rescind $4.7B from DOD programs

The Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed rescinding $4.7 billion in Defense Department funding allocated in previous years, with the steepest cuts hitting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, missile defense programs and an aid fund used to train and equip Afghan and Iraqi forces fighting insurgents.

Lawmakers want Pentagon's grand strategy for defense industrial base vulnerabilities

Senate appropriators want a holistic Pentagon strategy for shoring up critical vulnerabilities in the defense industrial base, as lawmakers are concerned Office of the Secretary of Defense leadership and the military services aren't all on the same page in addressing challenges to the supply chain.

Lawmakers push USAF for adaptive engine transition plan, propose $270M cut

The Senate Appropriations Committee is proposing a $270 million cut to the Air Force's Adaptive Engine Transition Program and are calling on the service to deliver details on plans to transition the new engine technology into major programs like the F-35.

Even though Harris' night vision business now belongs to Elbit Systems of America, Erik Fox will continue to run that business:

Elbit retains head of Harris' night vision business after acquisition

Elbit Systems of America, which closed on its purchase of Harris' night vision business over the weekend, said Erik Fox, who has led the business for five years, will remain its chief.

Parts of Israel's Iron Dome air and missile defense system can now be integrated with the Marine Corps' AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) and Common Aviation Command and Control System:

Marine Corps 'successfully' demos Iron Dome integration with G/ATOR, CAC2S

The Marine Corps successfully integrated elements of the Israeli-designed Iron Dome air and missile defense system with the service's existing radar and command and control system during a live-fire event last month, according to a government spokeswoman.

A senior Boeing executive is arguing an integrated team approach could shorten the GBSD program's schedule by at least two years and reduce the acquisition cost by about 10%:

Northrop rejects GBSD teaming proposal; Boeing requests Air Force involvement

Boeing is asking the Air Force to facilitate an integrated team approach for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program now that Northrop Grumman has turned down its pitch to collaborate.

The Army is drafting a "laboratory master plan" set to be completed in six to eight months:

Army Research Laboratory to fill infrastructure gaps with 'master plan'

The Army Research Laboratory is looking to modernize infrastructure at three of its facilities to support the service's modernization efforts.

Vice Adm. Tom Moore, Naval Sea Systems Command chief, recently spoke to reporters at the Pentagon:

Moore: Navy's private shipyard investment plan will mirror SIOP

With its public shipyard improvement efforts in full swing, the Navy is now developing a plan that would "mirror" those efforts for private shipyards, according to top Navy officials overseeing shipbuilding.

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