The INSIDER daily digest

We start today's INSIDER with a story on the preliminary findings from an ongoing Government Accountability Office study. The agency disclosed the early results as part of a March 9 statement to Congress.

GAO: Air Force Weather AOA includes incomplete assessment of key capabilities

Preliminary findings from an ongoing Government Accountability Office study reveal that the Air Force's recently completed analysis of alternatives for future weather systems may include incomplete assessments of two high-priority capabilities -- theater weather imagery and cloud characterization.

We have additional Air Force news in our story on the estimated cost for the service's KC-46A aerial refueling tanker development contract, which is more or less unchanged from last year.

Estimated price tag for KC-46 tanker development contract levels out at $6.4 billion

The estimated cost for the Air Force's KC-46A aerial refueling tanker development contract appears to be leveling out at $6.4 billion, more or less unchanged from last year, according to a service spokesman -- an assessment that holds prime contractor Boeing's exposure steady at $1.5 billion for cost growth beyond the contract ceiling price.

The F-35 joint program office is seeking to ensure a major role for small business in the program’s sustainment phase, a program official told Inside Defense this week.

F-35 program office promises ‘large role’ for small business

The F-35 joint program office is seeking to ensure a major role for small business in the program’s sustainment phase.

With the delivery of the Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan to Congress "imminent," the service is also preparing a new force-structure assessment that will include the ship requirement number for the fleet, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.

CNO: Delivery of 30-year shipbuilding plan to Congress is 'imminent'

With the delivery of the Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan to Congress "imminent," the service is also preparing a new force-structure assessment that will include the ship requirement number for the fleet, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.

We also have two new stories from Inside the Pentagon.

DOD preps reform package as McCain and Thornberry craft proposals

Defense Secretary Ash Carter is preparing to send Congress a raft of proposed reforms to the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act, while powerful armed services committee chairmen are readying their own potential changes to the 30-year-old law responsible for the Defense Department's present division of roles and responsibilities.

CENTCOM chief seeks new ways to train and equip Syrians to defeat ISIL

The Pentagon is seeking new ways to train and equip Syrians to help defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant following a failed effort last year, the head of U.S. Central Command told lawmakers this week.