DoD

Technology race against China a key concern for Pentagon acquisition nominee
Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, was nominated by President Biden to serve as undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment.

SecDef briefed on military space programs, threats to satellites
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week received his first high-level briefing on space issues since taking office.

OneWeb looking to fill demand for connectivity in the Arctic
OneWeb plans to start offering broadband from space in the Arctic region this fall, a capability the company hopes will attract military customers.

Lawmakers ask Biden administration to keep oversight committees in the loop on space activities
Reps. Frank Lucas and Brian Babin, who oversee civil and commercial space, expressed concerns about the administration's push for international regulation of space activities.

Op-ed | DoD weather capabilities have lagged; Space Force can turn that around
CNAS senior fellow Sarah Mineiro warns U.S. service members are at risk of losing the most up-to-date knowledge of weather conditions.

DoD focus on climate could shape future investments in weather satellites
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the Pentagon to develop plans to prepare for the impact of climate change. The guidance could shape investments in satellites for weather monitoring.

Op-ed | Why the National Space Council matters
President Biden should reestablish the National Space Council. Doing so would keep space issues on the radar of our nation’s highest officials and encourage the coordination necessary to solve problems that cut across multiple federal agencies.

Pentagon chief Austin stands behind Air Force amid probe of Space Command basing decision
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has issued a statement in support of the U.S. Air Force’s handling of the basing decision for U.S. Space Command.

Pentagon deputy nominee Hicks says DoD space acquisitions deserve scrutiny
Deputy defense secretary nominee Kathleen Hicks had a confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 2.

Policy experts named for DoD space, missile defense posts
David Zikusoka will serve as special assistant at the office of the assistant secretary of defense for space policy. Leonor Tomero will be deputy assistant director for nuclear and missile defense programs.

Biden’s Defense nominee embraces view of space as a domain of war
President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for defense secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed the view that the competition with China and Russia extends to outer space.

Report: U.S. military space programs at risk of losing domestic sources of key components
DoD space programs need to invest in new technology and qualify new suppliers to ensure they have access to domestic sources, the Pentagon said in a report released Jan. 14.

Omnibus spending bill gives Space Force its first separate budget
The package approved by Congress for fiscal year 2021 provides $696 billion for the Defense Department, including $15.2 billion for the U.S. Space Force.

Survey: Despite interest in commercial satcom, U.S. military favors legacy systems
A survey of military organizations funded by ViaSat reveals that many don’t have access to modern communications technology despite growing availability of commercial satellite services.

Trump administration’s national space policy formalizes Space Force role
The Trump administration released a new national space policy Dec. 9 that recognizes the U.S. Space Force as the primary organization responsible for defending the nation’s interests in space.