Key Issues Optical clocks Prototype funding SPAFORGEN
This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has continuing coverage of the Pentagon's fiscal year 2024 budget request, along with the official announcement of the U.S.-U.K.-Australia submarine development program and the latest on the engine replacement effort for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
We start off with budget request coverage, including Air Force hypersonics procurement, Army munitions and the prospects for supplemental funding for Ukraine:
No hypersonics procurement money in Air Force FY-24 budget request
The Air Force will not seek any procurement funding for hypersonic missile efforts, but research funding has been requested for two of the service's highest-profile hypersonic programs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget Maj. Gen. Mike Greiner said Monday.
Army seeks $1.5 billion to bolster munitions industrial base in FY-24 request
The Army is including $1.5 billion in its fiscal year 2024 budget request to support the organic industrial base for the production and resupply of critical munitions.
DOD says 0.8% 'real growth' budget sufficient for China-focused strategy; supplemental likely for Ukraine
Senior Pentagon officials said today the fiscal year 2024 budget request represents less than 1% real growth above what Congress enacted for FY-23 but asserted that the topline is sufficient to implement a National Defense Strategy focused on deterring China.
Here's the latest on the official announcement of Australia getting nuclear-powered submarines:
New AUKUS plan has Australia buying three U.S. subs in early 2030s, followed by 'SSN-AUKUS'
The United States, the U.K. and Australia have announced a three-phased plan for Australia to obtain U.S. nuclear-powered submarines by the early 2030s, followed by "SSN-AUKUS" in the early 2040s.
Last but by no means least, the latest on the competition to replace the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's engine:
GE still touting new engine as Air Force moves away from AETP for F-35
General Electric doubled down Monday on its belief that it has the best solution for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine update despite the Air Force's decision not to move forward with an Adaptive Engine Transition Program.