The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 22, 2023

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a nascent U.S.-Canadian homeland defense battle management, command and control system, a recent GAO report on the F-35 program and more.

Cloud-Based C2, which became a program in May 2022, is set this fall to replace the Battle Control System-Fixed which achieved initial operational capability in October 2006 in support of Operation Noble Eagle -- North American Aerospace and Defense Command's activities to protect the two nations' domestic airspace initiated after the September 2001 terrorist attacks:

U.S.-Canada ready new domestic airspace C2 system for ops; first major upgrade since post-9/11

The United States and Canada are close to declaring initial operational capability of Cloud-Based C2 -- a new homeland defense battle management, command and control system to replace a tool established after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks -- that top brass say is needed to defend North America from modern threats and is a likely candidate to be part of a future domestic cruise missile defense system.

A new Government Accountability Office report finds the Defense Department, Army and Navy "need to reassess the future sustainment strategy" for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program:

GAO: Assessment needed on F-35 sustainment

The Defense Department needs to reassess its approach to F-35 Joint Strike Fighter sustainment to boost its mission-capable rates to program goals, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday.

Document: GAO report on F-35 sustainment

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week on defense cooperation with Taiwan:

U.S. defense industry takes heat for Taiwan weapons backlog

U.S. government officials told Congress this week that a $19 billion backlog of foreign military sales to Taiwan is due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, but an influential business association that represents some of the largest Pentagon contractors seeks a more balanced view of the challenge.

Document: House hearing on defense cooperation with Taiwan

Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Pat Ryan (D-NY), noted at an S4G Summit this week that even with a possible government shutdown, they will be not working this weekend as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has sent everyone home for the weekend:

House lawmakers address government shutdown and Taiwan

Two members of the House Armed Services Committee today spoke publicly about how lessons learned from Ukraine may be applied to Taiwan and the national security impact of a government shutdown.

The new Navy Science and Technology Board is scheduled to hold its first meeting today:

Ex-Pentagon and Navy officials anchor new technology board

A new science and technology advisory board launched to support the Navy and Marine Corps will strive to bring insight and perspective to operational risks and benefits of emerging platforms, software and systems.