The INSIDER daily digest -- Oct. 21, 2019

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's Strategic Long Range Cannon, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and more.

The Army has a $228 million, three-year spending plan for the Strategic Long Range Cannon:

Army preparing to award contracts for Strategic Long Range Cannon

The Army is forging gun tubes and readying initial contracts for a new system intended to operate with the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon in the opening salvos of a major fight against a near-peer military force. The Strategic Long Range Cannon is a prototype mega-cannon envisioned to fire rounds hundreds of miles at high-priority enemy radar and air-defense sites, namely those of Russia and China.

Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord held a press conference Friday, where she discussed the Joint Strike Fighter, acquisition reform and more:

F-35 full-rate production decision delayed up to 13 months

The Pentagon confirmed today the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter full-rate production decision, which was expected in December, could be delayed by 13 months due to delays in integrating the Joint Simulation Environment.

Lord: Pentagon is 'on the brink' of acquisition transformation

Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord said her office is set to unveil in December "the most transformational acquisition policy change we've seen in decades."

Document: Lord briefing at the Pentagon

ATA Technologies, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Kord Technologies as well as the Air Force Research Laboratory's Tactical High-Power Operational Responder -- a high-power microwave integrated by BAE Systems -- are being tested for a counter-drone capability:

USAF directed-energy counter-drone demo begins, as program of record discussions progress

The Air Force's directed-energy experimentation campaign has started another round of counter-drone testing with five different systems that management officials are exploring for an anticipated program of record.

Defense Department Special Assistant for Cybersecurity Katie Arrington spoke last week at the Consortium for Information and Software Quality meeting:

Funding DOD through CRs could scuttle cyber certification program, Arrington warns

The Pentagon's landmark cybersecurity certification program could be scuttled if Congress ends up funding the military through a series of continuing resolutions until after the election, according to Defense Department Special Assistant for Cybersecurity Katie Arrington.