The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 20, 2021

By John Liang / September 20, 2021 at 1:38 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon and armed overwatch programs and more.

Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, program executive officer of the Air Force's armament directorate, spoke this morning at a Defense News panel:

Air Force: Root cause of latest ARRW test issue still unknown; no complete redesign expected

The Air Force's top armament official said he doesn't expect the service's Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon will need to undergo a complete redesign in the wake of continued testing setbacks, though the root cause of the latest issue is still unknown.

The head of the Air Force's Special Operations Command spoke about the armed overwatch program today:

Slife: 'Good likelihood' SOCOM's armed overwatch will enter procurement in FY-22

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Citing industry readiness and anticipated congressional support, the head of the Air Force’s Special Operations Command said today "there's a good likelihood" the armed overwatch program will transition to procurement in fiscal year 2022.

Inside Defense recently interviewed Army Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean, program executive officer for ground combat systems:

Operational experiment to flesh out ERCA fighting strategy

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ -- Determining the doctrine needed to fight with the Extended Range Cannon Artillery will be as much of a focus as the technical changes from existing howitzers in an upcoming yearlong operational experiment, service officials told Inside Defense Sept. 15.

The Navy expects an independent review team to begin its work looking into the Next Generation Jammer-Low Band contract this month:

Navy launching NGJ-LB review as L3Harris challenges GAO decision in court

The Navy plans to launch an independent review of its Next Generation Jammer-Low Band contract later this month after the Government Accountability Office upheld a protest Northrop Grumman filed against the award to L3Harris Technologies last month.

Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), chairman of the Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on investigations and oversight, is sponsoring an amendment to the fiscal year 2022 defense policy bill that would commission an "Independent Study on Impact of Missile Defense Development and Deployment":

House to consider new review of long-range missile defense and overall U.S. security

The House next week will consider a proposal to launch a sweeping assessment on the efficacy of long-range missile defense programs in the context of overall security of the United States, specifically a proposal to charter the National Academy of Sciences to explore potential adverse consequences associated with the $202 billion program to develop and procure the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

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