This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Space Force needing artificial intelligence plus coverage of the fiscal year 2025 defense policy conference bill.
We start off with coverage from the Space Force Association's Spacepower Conference:
AI needed for multiple Space Force operations
ORLANDO -- Space Force guardians need to integrate AI technologies for myriad operations or risk losing decision advantage, officials with the service say.
Authorizers cut Space Force procurement while service raises alarm on Chinese threats
ORLANDO -- The Space Force needs more funding to counter rapidly advancing threats in space from China, top officials said today, just days after congressional authorizers advanced the annual policy bill that would cut the service's procurement budget by 11% in fiscal year 2025.
Additional coverage from the FY-25 defense authorization conference bill includes the Defense Innovation Unit, Army industrial base policy and its unfunded priorities list as well as the Marine Corps' CH-53K heavy lift helicopter:
Lawmakers tell DIU to explore opportunities for expansion, with an eye on 'strategic partnership' with Taiwan
House and Senate authorizers are tasking the Defense Innovation Unit with submitting a report on expanding the organization's geographic presence, with an eye toward Taiwan, according to the joint explanatory statement accompanying the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization conference bill.
Lawmakers call on Army to prioritize organic industrial base capacity
House and Senate authorizers agree that developing a reliable Army organic industrial base must be prioritized going forward, as opposed to investing in contractors outside the United States.
Defense authorization bill adds millions for Army cUAS, PrSM unfunded requests
House and Senate authorizers have added millions of procurement dollars to the conference version of the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill for items on the Army's unfunded priorities list, including counter unmanned systems and the Precision Strike Missile.
CH-53K multiyear buy supported by joint authorization bill
A Navy proposal to begin multiyear procurement of CH-53K helicopters and their T408 engines is supported in joint fiscal year 2025 defense policy legislation unveiled this week by House and Senate authorizers.