The Insider

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on several air-to-air and air-to-ground missile programs along with purchases of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and humvees.

Lockheed Martin and RTX are getting $7.8 billion in contracts for AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles and AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles as well as AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles:

Air Force awards billions for AMRAAM, JASSM and LRASM

The Air Force has awarded missile makers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin $3.5 billion and about $4.3 billion, respectively, to boost deliveries of the vendors' advanced missile products, according to a July 31 Pentagon announcement.

More missile news:

Navy freezing AARGM-ER production plans after test failure, seeks to divert funds

The Navy is freezing immediate production plans for its next-generation anti-radar missile following a recent test failure, opening the door for the Pentagon to redirect more than $200 million in previously approved funding to other military priorities.

Despite a decision to halt future humvee purchases, the Army is planning to buy 545 more vehicles this year:

Army buys 545 humvees following procurement cancellation

The Army is spending $127 million on 545 more humvees three months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a stop on future buys of the vehicle under the Army Transformation Initiative.

For more than a year, senior Army leaders have heavily emphasized the need for more funding flexibility within the budget to more easily move money around:

Senate appropriators curtailing some of Army's agile funding strategy

The Senate Appropriations Committee wants the Army to scale back its agile portfolio funding strategy for fiscal year 2026, lawmakers wrote in their version of the defense spending bill.

Senators want the Marine Corps to submit a revised Joint Light Tactical Vehicle acquisition strategy:

Appropriators want a reworked JLTV plan from Marine Corps

Senate appropriators want the Marine Corps commandant to retool the service's acquisition strategy for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program after the Army cancelled the vehicle in May without giving the Marines a heads up.

The Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) intends to launch a study of science and technology investments in "Structural Concepts for Affordable Launched Effects," according to a government notice posted July 30.

The investments would help the development and manufacturing of these components for both Launched Effects and small unmanned aerial systems “at drastically lower cost and significantly higher production rates than currently achievable,” the notice states.

“These investments are expected to be design agnostic, agile manufacturing approaches and technologies that can be broadly applied to many or all LE and sUAS, rather than solutions tailored to specific designs,” the notice states.

The Army is particularly interested in using technologies that can be embedded within units in order to enable soldiers to manufacture the LE and sUAS components in the field.

The main parts the Army is interested in sourcing as part of this study include the fuselage, wing and tail structures, as well as non-structural components such as mission equipment packages and batteries, according to the service.

The Army is asking for responses to the solicitation by Aug. 29.

In the last few years, due to wars in Ukraine and Israel, Army senior leaders have been shifting much of their modernization priorities to the areas of UAS, counter UAS, Launched Effects and Electronic Warfare. Launched Effects, systems that can be launched from both ground and air platforms, are meant to increase the Army’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

“Lower production costs enable the Army to deploy a larger number of launched effects, enhancing overall mission effectiveness without straining the budget,” last week’s solicitation notes.

In his April 30 memo ordering the Army Transformation Initiative, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Army to field both UAS, as well as air and ground Launched Effects in every division by the end of 2026.

In its fiscal year 2026 budget request, the Army has put $67 million in procurement funding into an agile “Launched Effects Family of Systems” portfolio. This money will go toward UAS that will increase lethality in Infantry Brigade Combat Teams “in terms of stand-off and destruction against dismounted formations, armored vehicles, and tanks” according to budget justification documents.

Procurement funding for the Launched Effects Family of Systems will mainly be spent on the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program -- an antitank drone that consists of an all-up round and fire control system. LASSO is meant to fly 20km or less and allow soldiers within IBCTs to locate and attack targets, while also giving them the “ability to abort against targets in a dynamic situation or prosecute targets that would have been deemed non-viable in past due to the higher collateral damage associated with alternative munitions.”

The Army plans to spend $187 million on research, development, test and evaluation for “agile systems development” within the Launched Effects portfolio, in FY-26. This includes funding for development of the long range precision munition, lethal semi-autonomous drones, the soldier borne sensor and sUAS, according to justification documents.

The bulk of this Friday INSIDER Daily Digest revolves around the Senate fiscal year 2026 defense appropriations bill and accompanying report.

Before we get to the bill, though, some DOT&E news:

Nominee to head DOT&E waves off lawmaker concerns about cuts to office

Lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee questioned the nominee picked to lead the Pentagon's independent weapons testing office today on how the fallout from planned personnel cuts could impact her ability to do the job.

Document: Henninger, Powers, Denton, Kohlmann nominations testimony

More news on the Army's transformation initiative:

Army and Congress at odds on OIB construction costs

The Army is still mostly mum on its supposed plan to close certain depots and arsenals three months after announcing the Army Transformation Initiative, and while it has leaned on the premise that it's far pricier to build in the organic industrial base than to harness commercial partnerships, the only figure that's been cited in congressional testimony to illustrate that point is a misleading one.

Moving on to the spending bill, senators want the Marine Corps to send in a revised plan for how the service will procure Joint Light Tactical Vehicles:

Appropriators want a reworked JLTV plan from Marine Corps

Senate appropriators want the Marine Corps commandant to retool the service's acquisition strategy for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program after the Army cancelled the vehicle in May without giving the Marines a heads up.

More appropriations news:

Senate appropriators reprimand Army for being hush-hush on transformation initiative details

The Senate Appropriations Committee, in its fiscal year 2026 defense spending bill, has used forceful language in demanding the Army provide greater detail on its multifaceted transformation initiative, requiring the secretary and chief of staff to provide quarterly briefings to the congressional defense committees.

Senate appropriators add $780M to alleviate F-35 pressure points

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter would get a $780 million sustainment boost across several funding lines in the Senate Appropriations Committee's version of next year's spending bill as lawmakers continue to cite the program's ongoing developmental challenges.

Senate appropriators whack Trump administration for $10B procurement shortfall

The Senate Appropriations Committee today said the Trump administration's historically late budget -- and its bifurcated fiscal year 2026 request -- contributed to a $10 billion disconnect in funding for priority procurements that were left out of the White House's budget submission and not accounted for in the recently passed reconciliation bill.

DOD plans to cancel E-7A Wedgetail appear dead

The Defense Department's attempt to cancel the E-7A Wedgetail program is all but dead as all four defense committees in Congress have put funding for the effort into their fiscal year 2026 bills.

Senate spending bill adds $1.4B for F/A-XX, drawing line between appropriators and Pentagon

The Senate Appropriations Committee's draft fiscal year 2026 spending bill looks to fund the Navy's F/A-XX sixth-generation aircraft to the tune of $1.4 billion, teeing up a fight between congressional appropriators and the White House over the future of the program.

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Senate Appropriations Committee marking up the FY-26 defense spending bill, plus HII's quarterly earnings, Air Force One and more.

Senators have marked up the fiscal year 2026 defense spending bill:

Senate appropriators advance bill to increase defense spending by $20B

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 25-3 to approve a fiscal year 2026 defense spending bill today that would provide $852 billion for the Defense Department, an increase of more than $20 billion above what House appropriators have supported.

HII held its quarterly earnings call with Wall Street analysts this morning:

HII confident in current joint submarine work with Electric Boat, open to exploring options

As the Navy explores the possibility of increased competition in submarine construction, shipbuilder HII's CEO expressed optimism today in the current arrangement between HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat but added that alternatives could be explored.

The latest Air Force One modernization news:

Pentagon seeks $150M boost to accelerate new Air Force One delivery to 2027

The Pentagon is seeking congressional approval to shift $150 million into the Air Force One replacement program, a move aimed at accelerating delivery of the next presidential aircraft by as much as two years.

The goal of Flytrap, in its first year, is to develop, test and field counter UAS technologies with NATO allies and partners in order to enhance "deterrence capability":

Army incorporating 'layered approach' to counter drone strategy in European exercise

An ongoing counter-drone exercise in Europe being conducted by the Army reiterates the need for a "layered approach" to defending against the modern day battlefield threat, according to officials.

A recent cooperative research and development agreement is intended to help the Air Force build common standards and interfaces for mission autonomy as vendors develop interoperable unmanned systems:

Reliable Robotics, Air Force team up to create autonomy reference architecture

The Air Force has selected technology firm Reliable Robotics to develop the software framework needed to link commercial AI configurations with the service's autonomous platforms, the company announced Tuesday.

In a recent memo, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy Director of Price, Cost and Finance Peter Guinto declares that "effective immediately, all qualifying contract actions for critical munitions are approved for participation in the Section 890 Pilot Program ('TINA Lite' Pilot Program)":

DOD approves critical munitions for streamlined pricing pilot program

The Defense Department has approved large critical munitions contracts for a pilot program intended to accelerate acquisition timelines by allowing defense contractors to reduce the typical amount of certified cost and pricing data they submit to the government, according to a new memo.

Document: DPAP memo on approval of Section 890 pilot program for all munitions contract actions

Last but by no means least, here's the latest CMMC news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

CMMC accreditation body touts voluntary participation in assessments as final rulemaking gets closer to fruition

The accreditation body behind the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program provided an update on the voluntary efforts of defense contractors to get third-party assessments at an energized town hall meeting, where stakeholders seemed encouraged by the Defense Department's recent milestone to move toward a final rule kicking off the formal launch of the initiative.

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2025 omnibus reprogramming request, plus coverage from the House and Senate Armed Services committees' Defense Department programmatic tables meant to guide $150 billion in budget reconciliation spending, Boeing's quarterly earnings and more.

Inside Defense obtained a copy of the Defense Department's fiscal year 2025 omnibus reprogramming request:

Pentagon seeks $5.4B funding shift to precision strike, space and more

The Pentagon is asking Congress for permission to reprogram $5.4 billion in previously appropriated funds to boost long-range strike, hypersonic weapons and space capabilities, a major realignment of defense dollars that underscores shifting priorities amid intensifying global threats.

More coverage from the House and Senate Armed Services committees' Defense Department programmatic tables meant to guide $150 billion in budget reconciliation spending:

Lawmakers push $4 billion maritime industrial base investment in reconciliation spending guidance

Congress wants the Pentagon to use over $4 billion of its budget reconciliation package to upgrade the maritime industrial base, according to programmatic guidance tables that recommend supplier development, workforce support and technology modernization investments including the implementation of artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing techniques.

Document: Lawmakers' DOD reconciliation guidance tables

Senior Boeing executives discussed the company's quarterly earnings this week:

Boeing pumps the brakes on defense losses

Boeing's defense division turned a profit in the second quarter of this year, the company revealed today, a marked shift after it has consistently taken on significant charges in previous quarters.

The Government Accountability Office reported on July 24 that although the Defense Department is working to improve its ability to identify supply chain risks from reliance on foreign sources -- ranging from raw materials to manufacturing and components -- these efforts remain too narrow, uncoordinated, and limited in scope:

Watchdog urges Pentagon to tackle foreign dependency risks in defense supply chains

A new government watchdog report reveals the Defense Department is aware of immediate steps to identify and address threats from foreign influence in critical defense supply chains but has yet to implement or strategize on them.

Document: GAO report on the defense industrial base

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense program just issued a new, multibillion-dollar contract:

Lockheed Martin nabs $2.1B for THAAD interceptor production amid planned upgrades

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a $2.1 billion contract modification to produce additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors, expanding Army inventory levels as the Missile Defense Agency moves forward with a parallel effort to modernize the system through 2027.

The Space Force awarded five businesses up to $4 billion for Protected Tactical Satellite Communications - Global, according to government notices posted last night.

The Space Force has committed $37.3 million to Viasat, Northrop Grumman, Astranis Space Technologies, Intelsat General Communications and Boeing to design and demonstrate capabilities for PTS-G.

The service had planned to award up to four contracts, it said in its November request for proposals.

The Space Force is requesting $239.6 million in fiscal year 2026 for PTS-G research, development, test and evaluation, according to budget documents. The service had requested $248 million in FY-25 for the new-start effort but only received $101 million for the year through the continuing resolution passed in March.

The funding for FY-26 would be used to “design, demo, engineer, manufacture and test” four space vehicles -- two with Ka-band capabilities and two with X-band capabilities, according to the budget documents.

PTS-G will serve a medium-assurance capability role for SATCOM, bridging the gap between the focused PTS-Resilient program and lower-assurance MILSATCOM and commercial services, according to the service. It will work across military Ka-band and X-band wavelengths.

Initial operational capability is expected in FY-28 with full operational capability in FY-30. The budget documents show the program purchasing 12 satellites in total.