Military Space

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.

Air Force secretary raises space awareness inside Pentagon; Startups grab spotlight at satellite industry’s annual DC trade show
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson is using regular meetings with her Army and Navy counterparts to keep her colleagues up to date on space issues and on the emerging concept of “multi-domain” military operations that requires broader sharing of information.

Key hurdle cleared for York Space Systems and U.S. Army small satellite launch
York Space Systems, a Denver startup preparing to mass manufacture small satellites, has completed a key technical review, clearing the way for the November launch of its Harbinger mission.

As space launch business heats up in Florida, Air Force commander Wayne Monteith tries to break records
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith is a military officer who speaks with the enthusiasm of a startup CEO. “When people say the space business is down, they’re not spending much time down here where I have four launches in a month,” he commented.

Mattis incensed there’s still no budget – DepSecDef at Space Command – Military pulling for Falcon Heavy
The budget impasse has been beyond exasperating, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. "I cannot overstate the impact to our troops morale over all of this uncertainty."

SN Military.Space | Vice Chief Selva: With no budget ‘We’re gambling’ – Why it’s hard to defend space – Space industry adapts to changing market
With still no budget four months into fiscal year 2018, the Pentagon is waiting to see where the chips fall. Defense officials are ready to take the FY19 budget proposal up to Capitol Hill but that may prove a tricky bet not knowing what Congress will appropriate for FY18.

SN Military.Space | HASC chairman blasts Congress for ‘immoral’ funding process
In a deal struck Monday, Congress passed its fourth continuing resolution since late September to keep the government funded at last year's levels.

On National Security | Cloud of uncertainty over military space programs
“On National Security” appears in every issue of SpaceNews magazine. This column ran in the Dec. 18, 2017 issue.

Op-ed | Paving a clear “Path” to interoperable SATCOM
It’s time to allow trusted commercial operators to help government benefit from improved satellite operations