Air Force

Raytheon to develop planning software for military cargo missions that would fly on space rockets
Raytheon won a $8.7 million contract to develop mission planning software for the U.S. Air Force rocket cargo program.

DIU selects startups for U.S. military weather modeling project
The Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Air Force announced Oct. 26 they selected five companies to help build weather models using data from satellites, aerial and terrestrial sensors.

Lawmakers press Air Force for final decision on U.S. Space Command
Colorado’s senators in a Sept. 27 to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall argue that a final basing decision on U.S. Space Command needs to be made as soon as possible in light of the Ukraine conflict and China’s expansion in the Pacific

SpaceX gets $1.9 million Air Force contract for Starlink services in Europe and Africa
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command awarded SpaceX a $1.9 million one-year contract to provide Starlink internet services in Europe and Africa starting this month.

Air Force completes draft environmental review of U.S. Space Command candidate locations
A draft environmental assessment said the proposed relocation of U.S. Space Command to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, would have “no significant impacts on the human or natural environment.”

U.S. Space Force sees future demand for surveillance beyond Earth orbit
Space Force Lt. Gen. Whiting said the U.S. military will likely have to pay more attention to what’s happening in cislunar space

Air Force looking at next steps on Space Command basing decision
“We're all hoping to move forward with a final decision as quickly as we can," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said regarding the relocation of U.S. Space Command

Calvelli to assume duties as U.S. Air Force’s space acquisition executive
After being confirmed by the Senate, Frank Calvelli will be sworn in as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration

Kendall: Space ‘order of battle’ a top priority in U.S. defense budget and strategy
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said the ‘space order of battle’ is driving budget discussions in preparation for the 2024 request.

Space acquisition nominee: Satellites must be defended, ‘the economy depends on space’
Frank Calvelli, nominated by President Biden to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, said Feb. 17 that the United States needs to move quickly to protect satellites so they can be “counted on during times of crisis and conflict.”