This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2027 operational test and evaluation budget request, plus a look at autonomy in weapon systems policy and more.

We start off with a deep dive into the Pentagon's operational test and evaluation budget request:

DOD budget slashes independent weapons testing office, transforming long-standing oversight role

The latest government budget documents reveal the extent of a dramatic restructuring and downsizing of the Pentagon's independent weapons testing office, slashing multiple long-running programs and shifting major activities to other parts of the Defense Department as the Trump administration narrows the office's focus to core statutory oversight responsibilities.

Document: DOT&E's FY-27 budget justification book

The Defense Department is looking to update its autonomy in weapon systems directive:

Pentagon to update autonomous weapons policy amid Iran conflict

The Defense Department's policy governing human control of autonomous weapons systems has not been updated in more than three years, even as the Pentagon's adoption of autonomy technologies has accelerated, prompting department officials to tell congressional lawmakers they plan to address the issue.

Document: DOD directive on autonomy in weapon systems

More coverage from the SOF Week conference in Tampa:

SOCOM wants capabilities that allow rotary-wing aircraft to operate more quietly

TAMPA, FL -- U.S. Special Operations Command wants to equip its fleet of rotary-wing aircraft with capabilities that allow missions to be completed more quietly, an aviation official within the command's acquisition branch told attendees at the annual SOF Week conference.

SOCOM wants to increase autonomy on the battlefield without increasing 'cognitive load' for operators

TAMPA, FL -- Autonomy and artificial intelligence will likely play a larger role on the battlefield for U.S. Special Operations forces in the years to come, but officials said this week at the SOF Week conference that it has to be done in a way that doesn't increase the "cognitive load" for operators.

(Read our full SOF Week coverage.) 

Some counter-drone news:

Counter-drone marketplace a month out from incorporating 25 U.S. allies, Driscoll says

The Pentagon's counter-drone task force will give 25 allies and partners access to its marketplace for drone defense in about one month, senior Army leaders announced at the Pentagon this week.

Looks like HII will be building the Trump-class battleship:

Newport News to be final assembly yard for Trump-class battleship, Navy official says

The Navy plans to construct the Trump-class battleship at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding facilities in Newport News, VA a top official told lawmakers this week.

The Army is seeking low-cost interceptors:

Army launches low-cost interceptor competition, targeting sub-$1 million systems by fall

The Army is launching an ambitious competition to field low-cost interceptors and components by September, seeking complete missile systems for under $1 million and individual subsystems for less than $250,000 as the service works to address munitions stockpile depletion driven by counter-drone operations in the Middle East.

The Air Force will be getting more B-21 bombers:

Northrop increasing B-21 production rate from 10 to 12, Air Force chief says

Northrop Grumman will be increasing the production rate for the B-21 Raider bomber from 10 aircraft at a time to 12, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said this week.