Military Space
On National Security | Is space-as-a-service a viable option for the DoD?
Does it make sense for the Pentagon to spend billions of dollars buying and maintaining satellites when there are now private companies that can provide space-based capabilities as a service? That’s the question at the heart of an ongoing debate about the role of private space enterprise in national security.
Military space gets big boost in Pentagon’s $750 billion budget plan
The nearly 20 percent increase in military space spending sought by the Trump administration comes as the White House and the Pentagon prepare to stand up a new Space Development Agency, reestablish U.S. Space Command and plead their case to Congress for establishing a new Space Force within the Department of the Air Force.
Op-ed | Real talk and real solutions to real space threats
While there are indeed real threats the United States faces in space, the political and public discourse about both the threats and solutions leaves much to be desired.
Blue Canyon Technologies wins constellation contract
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded BCT a contract to define bus and payload requirements for Blackjack, a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit to offer persistent global communications and Earth observation.
The Trump self-defense doctrine for the new space era
In the face of emerging novel threats and vulnerabilities, whether the self-defense doctrine allows us to counter the threat before the attack occurs can make the difference between peace and war.
On National Security | Big hurdles for small satellites in the military market
The Pentagon’s research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, wants to disrupt the military space business.
UK military looking at smallsats to increase space resilience
U.K. Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier says the cost-effective technology with its short development cycles would enable the military to always take advantage of the latest technological developments, unlike the traditional slow-paced military satellite projects.
Army weighs commercial options for battlefield comms • Space Command D.C. boss introduced • DoD eyes space-based missile defense
Leading a new effort to improve connectivity for Army units is Maj. Gen. David Bassett, program executive officer for command, control, and communications-tactical, or PEO C3T.
SN Military.Space | SecAF Wilson talks space reforms, ‘moving fast’ • SMC: Prototyping is back • GEOINT 2018 news
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson made news last week at the Space Symposium with major announcements on the reorganization of Space and Missile Systems Center and the standup of a new office to eliminate bottlenecks in the system.
34th Space Symposium: A different mood • DoD’s Kitay talks space policy • Orbital ATK’s new rocket name revealed
Over the next couple of days at the 34th Space Symposium, DoD and military VIPs are expected to announce new initiatives on space as a domain of war and efforts to “go fast” in space procurement programs.
A year later, a new political reality for military space
Over the course of the past 12 months, not only did Congress pass a law that disbanded the A-11 position but it also stripped the secretary of the Air Force of her role as principal space adviser to the secretary of defense.
SN Military.Space | Space Command No. 2 takes office • NRO leading the way in innovation • Satellite as weapons in infowars
“Corporate advocacy and stewardship for Air Force space missions and capabilities.” That, in a nutshell, is the job description for Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson, who last Thursday became Air Force Space Command vice commander.
SN Military.Space | DoD elated by budget hike, but good times may not last • USAF ready to ‘go fast’ in space • Three-star space commander swearing in
After President Trump signed the massive $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill March 23, Pentagon officials have gone out of their way to thank Congress.
SN Military.Space | Faster acquisitions a ‘daunting task’ for DoD; Satellite comms: What does DoD want?
Air Force Gen. John Hyten has been insistent that U.S. military space programs need to “go faster” as adversaries continue to close in on the United States.
Air Force is spending more on space, but modernization path still a big question
In its budget proposal for the coming year, the U.S. Air Force is trying to send the same message to foreign adversaries and critics at home: the service definitely is not underestimating threats the United States and its allies face in space.
