The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 30, 2024

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army and Air Force debating funding for air base defense and more.

Air base defense against ballistic and cruise missile as well as drone attacks has historically been an Army mission, but under the current financial outlook, service officials are hesitant to take on the expensive and complex role in its entirety:

Army, Air Force draw lines over air base defense while questions about funding loom

As the Air Force envisions a future in which a network of small bases in austere locations allows airmen to swiftly plug in and out of operations, service officials are calling on the Army to bulk up its portion of air base defense.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently held an event with Army acquisition chief Doug Bush and Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures Command, that covered the service's experience with unmanned aerial systems, insights gleaned from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Replicator and Launched Effects programs:

CR won't slow down specific Army projects but could become long-term issue

The three-month continuing resolution Congress passed last week might not slow down specific Army projects, Army acquisition czar Doug Bush said at a roundtable Friday, but it does slow down the system as a whole.

HII says through internal reporting, the company found some welders "knowingly circumvented certain welding procedures," though there was no indication of malicious intent in the initial investigation:

HII: No indication of malicious intent behind faulty welds; lawmakers vow to investigate

Shipbuilder HII says there is no indication of malicious intent behind suspected faulty welds on Navy submarines and aircraft carriers at Newport News Shipbuilding, after the Justice Department received notification that they may have been intentionally placed on non-critical components.

Originally called the Mobile Protected Firepower System, the M10 Booker's IOT&E testing, which began in July, will wrap up in February:

M10 Booker operational testing halfway done

The Army is about midway through the initial operational testing and evaluation phase for the M10 Booker, which is designed to provide combat power to the service's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.

Textron's RIPSAW M3 robotic combat vehicle is made to keep soldiers out of danger and take on missions such as reconnaissance and surveillance across all sorts of terrain:

Textron teams up with Kodiak Robotics on self-driving system for RIPSAW M3

Textron Systems has added a self-driving system from Kodiak Robotics to its RIPSAW M3 robotic combat vehicle, the company has announced.