Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

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This week's top story

Senate authorizers seek to guide use of Pentagon equity investments

The Senate Armed Services Committee wants to give the Defense Department's credit office authority to make equity investments, per the panel's version of the of the fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill.

News & notes

Congress seeks tighter oversight as DOD moves to institutionalize Economic Defense Unit

The Pentagon is seeking nearly $600 million for its new Economic Defense Unit, in addition to special hiring authority for up to 33 private-sector executives and funding growth through fiscal year 2031, moves that would cement the office's place inside the Defense Department even as Senate lawmakers seek new oversight of DOD's equity investment activities.

DOD shifts two-thirds of classified AI work away from Anthropic

The Defense Department has already transitioned more than two-thirds of its work on classified networks to alternative artificial intelligence providers ahead of a September deadline to phase out technology from AI firm Anthropic, the Pentagon's research and engineering chief said Friday.

Senate policy bill approves foreign shipbuilding for auxiliaries, adds limits on warships

The Senate Armed Services Committee would allow the Pentagon to build a limited number of bulk fuel and sealift vessels in foreign shipyards while tightening control of further overseas production, according to an executive summary of its draft fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill.

AF seeks vendor for Homeland Defense Over-The-Horizon Radar receive subsystem

The Air Force is seeking industry feedback on a critical component of the Homeland Defense Over-the-Horizon Radar program, advancing an effort to provide long-range sensor coverage of potential threats to North America from aircraft, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and ships.

Senate defense bill targets contractor business practices with new data rights, investment provisions

The Senate Armed Services Committee's fiscal year 2027 defense authorization bill would impose new scrutiny on how defense contractors manage both their intellectual property and corporate finances, reflecting growing congressional frustration with industrial base shortfalls despite years of increased Pentagon spending.

Appointments & promotions

Retired Vice Adm. Richard Breckenridge appointed as senior shipbuilding adviser

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has appointed retired Vice Adm. Richard Breckenridge to serve as senior adviser for shipbuilding, the service announced Monday.

What's happening

The week ahead

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at events around Washington this week.

For Inside Defense subscribers

SPECIAL REPORT: Financial pressure pushed Air Force to pull the reins on NGAS

The Air Force's decision to demote the next-generation tanker effort to a subprogram in the fiscal year 2027 budget request is driven by operational analysis and underlying fiscal constraints, several sources told Inside Defense.

Pentagon requesting multiyear authority for a dozen munitions

The Pentagon is requesting multiyear procurement authority from Congress for a dozen munitions beginning in fiscal year 2027, according to a legislative proposal recently sent to Capitol Hill.