This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from this week's AUSA Global Force Symposium, Oshkosh's ongoing protest of a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract award, the Air Force's T-7 trainer aircraft and a lot more.
Let's start off with the latest on Oshkosh's protest of a multibillion-dollar Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract award to AM General:
In protesting the recent award of the follow-on contract of the Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to AM General, Oshkosh claims that the government ignored problems related to AM General’s production process, corrosion testing and the cost evaluation.
Here's more coverage from this week's AUSA Global Force Symposium:
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Army leaders drafting the service's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal are considering establishing a dedicated program element for counter-drone technology, a move that if adopted would stake out a consolidated place in long-term spending plans for projects currently dispersed across multiple air defense research and development funding lines.
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Army last week executed a live-fire test of the Patriot air defense system -- pitting a developmental PAC-3 software upgrade to address more advanced threats -- against a medium-range ballistic missile target at a test site in the Western Pacific.
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Army achieved record-setting distance when demonstrating a cannon-launched hypervelocity projectile prototype -- a munition capable of maneuvering in flight and striking moving targets -- in an event that points to a future where artillery units will be able to reach targets at ranges that today require missiles at a fraction the cost.
HUNTSVILLE, VA -- BAE Systems today announced a major realignment of its combat vehicle manufacturing operations -- including repositioning significant industrial capacity -- as part of a long-term plan to increase manufacturing rates and speed delivery of fighting vehicles to the Army and Marine Corps.
The U.S. military's top uniformed officer spoke this week about a potential new combatant command:
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said the Defense Department is preparing to stand up a new joint futures "command" or "entity" sometime this summer to focus on military innovation.
News on Army night-vision goggles:
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) questioned Army Secretary Christine Wormuth during a congressional hearing Thursday about the service's lack of funding for one night-vision goggle program, and its faith in another program that has had challenges.
Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter was on Capitol Hill this week:
Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers on Wednesday that Boeing has notified the service of its intent to begin production of the initial T-7 aircraft without a formal contract and the company will assume all risk if the initial aircraft do not meet service requirements.
The Air Force isn't planning to procure more Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missiles, service acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers Wednesday.
The Air Force plans to field its uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept by the end of the decade, service acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told lawmakers Wednesday.
The Navy's top civilian official talked about a dispute between the government and Boeing over Super Hornet intellectual property rights:
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro defended the service's push to acquire intellectual property related to 20 F/A-18 Super Hornets that have yet to be put on contract with Boeing, saying the Navy needs this data package to perform repairs in the field.
The lead boat of the Columbia-class submarine program is facing delays:
The lead Columbia-class submarine is now 10% behind schedule, trailing its 84-month timeline by roughly 8.4 months, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told lawmakers at today's House Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing.
Lawmakers want the Army to speed up replacing the weapons it's giving to Ukraine:
Some members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee during a hearing Tuesday pushed the Army to replenish its weapons stock faster as it continues to send aid to Ukraine.
Last but by no means least, the latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:
DOD Chief Information Officer John Sherman assured lawmakers at a Thursday hearing on the rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, acknowledging it has faced delays following an internal review while committing that it will be carried out successfully.