The INSIDER daily digest -- Sept. 9, 2024

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on House Republicans' proposed stopgap continuing resolution, Defense Department cybersecurity efforts and more.

House Republicans' proposed continuing resolution hasn't made the Pentagon's top civilian a fan:

Austin comes out swinging against GOP's proposed six-month CR

The House GOP's proposal to pass a six-month stopgap continuing resolution would have "devastating" impacts on military readiness and modernization, including the Pentagon's new Replicator drone program, according to a new letter Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has sent to congressional leaders.

Document: Austin letters to lawmakers on CR

Document: House GOP lawmakers' FY-25 CR

Austin also spoke at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, last week:

Austin: U.S. working to co-develop substitute S-300 and R-27 missiles with Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced today that the United States, with help from several European companies, is working with the Ukrainian weapons industry to "design and build" substitute munitions for the Soviet-era S-300 surface-to-air missile system and the R-27 air-to-air missile.

More coverage from last week's Billington Cybersecurity Conference:

New Pentagon cyber policy official seeks to elevate CYBERCOM's priorities

The dual role of assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy and principal cyber adviser to the defense secretary allows the person in it to act as liaison and streamlining agent, according to Michael Sulmeyer, the first Pentagon official to hold the position.

General Dynamics, with its partner Iridium, will continue its ground management and integration, operations and sustainment work for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture through fiscal year 2029:

General Dynamics awarded $492 million to continue ground management for SDA

The Space Development Agency has awarded General Dynamics a $491.6 million contract to continue its ground management and integration work for the agency's constellation of tracking and data transport satellites.

The Army has undertaken a number of initiatives to increase 155mm munitions production capacity such as opening a new modular metal parts production facility in Mesquite, TX earlier this year:

Bush says engineering challenges have caused minor delays with 155mm round production

Army acquisition chief Doug Bush says the Army is still on track to meet its objective of producing 100,000 155mm rounds per month by late fiscal year 2025, but various engineering challenges in the production process have led to delays that can sometimes last a few weeks.