The INSIDER daily digest -- May 3, 2023

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from senior service leaders testifying on Capitol Hill about their fiscal year 2024 budget requests.

Senior Navy officials testified on Capitol Hill this week and last about shipbuilding plans and missile stockpiles:

Sullivan calls lack of FY-24 amphib plan 'unacceptable'

Navy leaders faced criticism Tuesday from lawmakers over why the service's fiscal year 2024 budget fails to fund 31 amphibious warships -- as required by law -- and why the 30-year shipbuilding plan does not offer a blueprint for rebuilding the fleet.

Del Toro: Navy needs larger missile stockpiles in the Pacific

The Navy lacks sufficient quantities of long-range precision fires stockpiled in the Pacific, according to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, who expressed concern over China's growing missile inventory in the region.

Initial operational capability for the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II program is still on track for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023, even though operational testing wasn't completed in the second quarter, as scheduled:

SDB II glide bomb on target for IOC in FY-23

The Small Diameter Bomb Increment II (SDB II) will be fielded aboard the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet this year, where it will undergo more tests after experiencing delays from software changes to improve weapons-aircraft integration.

The Army's top civilian official testified this week before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee:

Wormuth says major decisions about force restructuring would occur in 2025

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told lawmakers Tuesday that in the wake of ongoing recruiting challenges, 2025 would be the timeframe when the service would need to make decisions about significant force restructuring.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown this week discussed the status of his service transitioning to the E-7 Wedgetail early warning aircraft:

Air Force working to speed fielding of full E-7 Wedgetail fleet

The Air Force will send dozens of airmen to Australia this year to train on the E-7 Wedgetail to help the service prepare for fielding that aircraft in fiscal year 2027, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown told lawmakers Tuesday.