Inside the Pentagon leads with news on JSF:

DOD Systems Engineering Experts See More F-35 Software Delays

The Defense Department's systems engineering experts expect more delays in the development of complex software essential for the operation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a previously unreported Pentagon assessment provided to lawmakers.

The warning that current delays will likely trigger more setbacks in the development of the high-priority software appears in the Pentagon acquisition directorate's latest annual report to Congress on developmental testing and systems engineering, obtained by Inside the Pentagon. The assessment runs contrary to recent assurances provided to Congress by the program's chief that the software delays are under control.

The March report notes the F-35 software endeavor has implemented technical-baseline-review recommendations for "schedule, resources and overall block planning to better align capabilities with deliveries and milestones." But future iterations of the software are likely to be delayed. "However, software delivery will remain a challenge and will likely pressure the new baseline," the report states, noting for example that Block 1B capabilities for the third batch of low-rate-initial-production F-35 aircraft will likely be delayed three months or more due to difficulties with security implementation.

DOCUMENT ALERT:

DOD's FY-11 Report On Developmental Testing And Systems Engineering

In March 2012 the Pentagon delivered its annual report to Congress on developmental testing and systems engineering issues.

More from that report:

Pentagon Still Struggling To Fill Key Systems Engineering Positions

The military is still struggling to fill systems engineering positions needed to detect and address cost, schedule and performance risks in multibillion-dollar acquisition programs, according to a Defense Department report to Congress.

And more on JSF:

Schwartz: Air Force Unlikely To Acquire F-35B STOVL Aircraft

The Air Force does not have the resources or the need to buy the F-35B, the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter developed for the Marine Corps, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Wednesday.

In case you haven't seen yet:

House Appropriations Committee Draft FY-13 Defense Spending Report

On May 16, 2012, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft report accompanying the fiscal year 2013 defense-spending bill.

Some of our coverage:

House Appropriators Rap Pentagon For Reliance On Reprogrammings: $15.1 Billion In FY-11

House appropriators issued a stern rebuke of the Pentagon's fiscal management in a report citing "a disturbing degradation" of the system established more than four decades ago for constructing and executing Defense Department budgets.

House Panel Proposes Multibillion-Dollar Procurement Boost For DOD

House appropriators are recommending a $5.3 billion boost in Pentagon procurement spending, including major funding increases for missile defense, tactical fighters and military vehicles.

House Appropriators Fully Fund CPGS, Request New AHW Report

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has fully funded the Pentagon's multimillion-dollar request for a program designed to strike targets worldwide in under an hour and called for a report on the Defense Department's plans to capitalize on a successful test.

As for the authorizers:

Bill Would Require DOD To Submit Annual Unfunded-Priorities Lists

The House Armed Services Committee wants to make mandatory the annual submission of unfunded-priorities lists, a longstanding optional practice that the Pentagon's top brass largely sidestepped this year, to the chagrin of lawmakers.

The panel's fiscal year 2013 defense authorization bill, which goes before the full House this week, would require the military service chiefs, the head of the National Guard Bureau and the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command to submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing a list of unfunded priorities. This report would be due within 30 days of the president's budget submission to Congress.

Since the 1990s, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee has annually requested unfunded-priorities lists. Unfunded-priorities lists submitted to Congress last year by the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and SOCOM produced a tally exceeding $1 billion. This year, none of the service chiefs provided lists to Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the panel's ranking member; instead they sent letters defending the department's budget request.

DOCUMENT ALERT:

Statement Of Administration Policy On The House's FY-13 Defense Authorization Bill

In a May 15, 2012, statement on the House version of the fiscal year 2013 defense authorization bill, the Obama administration tells lawmakers that "if the cumulative effects of the bill impede the ability of the administration to execute the new defense strategy and to properly direct scarce resources, the president's senior advisors would recommend . . . that he veto the bill."

Submitted Amendments To The FY-13 House Defense Authorization Bill

List of amendments submitted to the House Rules Committee for consideration during the House floor debate on the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Bill.

More from today's Inside the Pentagon:

Pentagon To Refine UAS Information-Exchange Methods In Second Test

The Pentagon is gearing up for the second test in a joint project designed to develop tactics, techniques and procedures enabling the armed services to better coordinate unmanned aircraft in theater.

The Joint Unmanned Aircraft Systems Digital Information Exchange (JUDIE) project will have its second field test next spring as part of Emerald Warrior 13, a U.S. Special Operations Command-sponsored exercise, Defense Department spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said. This test will build on the results of the first field test conducted last August, which focused on a series of standardized joint UAS information-exchange procedures. Although these procedures helped improve information exchanges, the test showed that tactics, techniques and procedures need to be more refined, Irwin said.

"Each service currently possesses these capabilities in one form or another but most are 'stovepiped' or bandwidth limited," Irwin said. "Our focus for field test two will be to further develop a non-materiel solution TTP that bridges these stovepipes and bandwidth limitations, while integrating our standardized procedures from field test one."

Our latest:

Appropriators: DOD Should Submit Detailed Cyber Budget Documents

Arguing the Pentagon has failed to clearly document resources for addressing cyber threats, a House panel wants defense leaders to submit new budget justification documents to help lawmakers track the department's planning in this arena.

Report: DOD Making Headway On Cybersecurity Testing Challenges

Lessons from simulated cyberattacks conducted late last year are helping the Defense Department better understand how to conduct effective cybersecurity testing on major weapons and information technology programs, according to a previously unreported Pentagon assessment.

-- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it