The U.S. Marine Corps looks to implement a rifle-mounted laser range finder in 2018 as part of efforts to help the service branch’s infantry squad leaders call in air strikes and artillery fire when they perform missions, C4ISR and Networks reported Sunday.

Shawn Snow writes the Marine Corps Systems Command currently conducts a market research and plans to invest $16 million to procure 1,800 laser range finders.

The technology is designed to help users access information on distances and locations of targets that can be engaged with heavy fire.

“The Marine Corps desires a smaller and lighter range finder for use in the infantry squad as it will be mounted on [the M4] and minimizing any addition to the individual combat load is always a prime consideration,” a MARCORSYSCOM representative was quoted as saying by C4ISR and Networks.

Snow noted that fielding new laser range finders may transform the approval process of air strikes or artillery fire missions, which he said currently goes through the joint terminal attack controller process.

The U.S. Air Force has begun to test upgrades for Northrop Grumman-built B-2 stealth bombers that include new sensors, software, electronics and radar technology, Scout Warrior reported Monday.

Kris Osborn writes the B-2 defensive management system has been updated to help  sustain the bomber’s stealth functions and increase defense against new threats.

Capt. Michael Hertzog, an Air Force spokesman, told Scout Warrior the DMS-M system will work to support B-2’s capacity to counter 21st century threats.

The report said the DMS-M program obtained authorization last year to move into the engineering manufacturing and development phase of the acquisition process.

Hertzog added three aircraft will be updated to complete the EMD phase and the program is scheduled to enter full rate production in 2019, according to the report.

The service branch expects to spend nearly $1.84 billion to build four B-2 DMS-M units and looks to invest $832 million to procure an additional 16 units, Osborn wrote.

The Air Force will fly B-2 aircraft alongside the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is scheduled to enter service by the mid-2020s.

Richard Ledgett, deputy director at the National Security Agency since 2014, will retire this spring after nearly 40 years of government service, Reuters reported Friday.

NSA spokesman Michael Halbig confirmed Ledgett’s planned departure from the agency in an email to Reuters.

Ledgett led the agency’s Media Leaks Task Force and response to leaks of classified information by former contractor Edward Snowden, according to the report by Warren Strobel and Mark Hosenball.

The nearly 29-year NSA veteran held various operational, management and technical leadership roles at the branch, division, office and group levels.

Ledgett previously served as director of the NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center; national intelligence manager for cyber; deputy director for analysis and production; deputy director for data acquisition; assistant deputy director for data acquisition; and chief of NSA/CSS Pacific.

He also supported signals intelligence gathering at the U.S. Army for nearly 11 years.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) has said President Donald Trump should file a supplemental budget request for fiscal 2017 by taking into consideration the $18 billion in House-approved defense expenditures that were dropped from the final 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, Washington Examiner reported Monday.

Nicole Duran writes Thornberry told reporters Monday the Trump administration said it will submit in the next few days a supplemental request that would focus on national security and may include provisions on border security.

The omitted $18 billion budget was intended to help DoD fund new equipment, more troops, maintenance, training and facilities, Thornberry said.

He noted that his committee has begun work on the fiscal 2018 budget that would propose $640 billion in funds for military rebuilding efforts, according to Duran’s report.

Thornberry said he believes Congress can put an end to sequestration in the Budget Control Act and increase defense spending under the new administration, according to a report by Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. for Breaking Defense.

“I think we have a tremendous opportunity to do the right thing,” Thornberry said.

“Unlike previous years, you have a Congress and administration who are looking at the big budget picture,” he added.