This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the government shutdown's effect on Army unmanned systems contracts, plus a potential shift in legacy helicopter procurement and more.

We start off with coverage of this week's annual Quad-A conference in Tennessee:

Army official says shutdown prevented 'several hundred million dollars' in UAS contracts in FY-26

NASHVILLE, TN -- The 43-day government shutdown that occurred last fall prevented "several hundred million dollars' worth" of unmanned aircraft system capabilities from getting on contract in fiscal year 2026, according to an Army aviation official.

Army could shift from its multiyear strategy for procuring legacy helicopters

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army is eyeing a potential shift in the way it procures its legacy fleet of Black Hawk, Apache and Chinook aircraft, going from a multiyear procurement strategy to a "year-to-year" model, service officials indicated during this week's Army Aviation Association of America conference here.

(Read our complete Quad-A coverage.)

The Army's top civilian was on Capitol Hill this week:

Driscoll points to MTC to explain Paladin funding slashes; Cole questions cut

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll this week linked the service's planned funding cuts to Paladin procurement with the Mobile Tactical Cannon competition, telling appropriators on Capitol Hill that soldiers need a lighter, faster cannon amid a battlefield rife with drones.

Document: Army's FY-27 posture statement

Some Army missile defense news:

Army pushes ahead with LTAMDS production despite testing concerns, budget gaps

The Army has awarded a $904 million contract modification to advance production of its next-generation air and missile defense radar, signaling plans to push ahead with the program even as testing questions persist and budget details grow murky.

Shifting gears to another conference taking place this week:

Space-based MTI coming soon, base contracts awarded

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- The Space Force has selected a pool of vendors for space-based airborne moving target indication and expects the first operational contract in about a month, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced at this week's Space Symposium.

(Read our full Space Symposium coverage.)

News on the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program:

Air Force, Anduril complete first tests with new CCA experimental operations unit

Operators from Air Combat Command finally got their hands on Anduril Industries' YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype, accelerating yet another milestone toward developing the drone wingman program's employment concepts, the Air Force revealed this week.

Last but by no means least, the CEO of Hanwha's U.S. subsidiary spoke with reporters in advance of next week's annual Sea-Air-Space conference:

Hanwha interested in 'host of programs' in Navy shipbuilding request

Hanwha Defense USA has a proposal in the works to build Landing Ships Medium at Philly Shipyard and is "considering" the program along with a "host" of others in the Navy's fiscal year 2027 budget request, according to CEO Michael Coulter.