Pentagon

U.S. military doubles down on GPS despite vulnerabilities
Space weapons meant to target U.S. satellites are a growing concern for the U.S. military. Especially worrisome are electronic jamming devices designed to interfere with GPS signals.

Military building an appetite for commercial space services
The U.S. Space Force is eager to tap into the vibrant commercial market for space services enabled by increasingly capable small satellites and cheaper access to orbit.

Government’s role in the small launch market not quite black and white
The U.S. government, particularly the Defense Department, will play a decisive role in selecting which small launch providers stay in business.

Defense market a safe haven for space companies during pandemic
Since the pandemic hit, Pentagon contracts have been a lifeline for companies in the space industry.

On Capitol Hill, smallsat industry makes new push for government funding
The trade association that represents small satellite manufacturers is making a fresh push on Capitol Hill to ensure funds are included in the Pentagon’s budget for smallsat technologies.

Space Development Agency promises to do more with less
The Space Development Agency officially came into existence last week and already is causing a stir.

Pentagon could face legislative challenges as Space Force briefings begin on the Hill
Once approved by the White House, the Pentagon will send a legislative proposal to Capitol Hill that lays out how the Space Force would be organized. Then officials will begin to brief lawmakers and staffers and they are sure to face a lot of tough questions.

Pentagon to propose a lean Space Force
We are starting to get a clearer picture of how the Pentagon plans to fund and organize the Space Force as a new military branch.

Pentagon space agency poised to ignite turf wars
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said the Space Force will be small in size and its advantage will come in the form of cutting-edge technology.

Nonprofit led by former U.S. lawmakers working to connect DoD with commercial space industry
The national security space program at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress is working on a list of recommendations on how the Pentagon could work better with the commercial space industry.

On National Security | Industry heartened by DoD space talk, but actions speak louder
While the Pentagon says it wants fast and lower cost launch services from the private sector, it is not making necessary changes to its procurement methods to make that happen.

Pentagon’s Missile Defense Review unenthusiastic about Star Wars weapons
One of the surprises of the 2019 Missile Defense Review is that it did not cheer the use of weapons in space.

After two-year defense buildup, Pentagon still lags in technology innovation
At the Reagan National Defense Forum and the West Coast Aerospace Forum this weekend, analysts and former defense officials roundly criticized the Pentagon for lacking a solid plan to modernize capabilities in areas where China and Russia are advancing.
Space Development Agency is priority one for DoD. But what exactly will the SDA do?
Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he expects a new Space Development Agency to be in place sometime in the first quarter of 2019.

On National Security | Space Force invades the midterms
The Space Force that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to set up could be a dim prospect if Republicans lose control of either the House or Senate when voters go to the polls Nov. 6 for the midterm elections.

Space-based missile defense: Is it better to spend money on weapons or sensors?
The Pentagon is expected to reveal in next year’s budget its plans to move forward to deploy new missile defense systems in space.

On National Security | Red flags, literally, raised on the U.S. defense industrial base
The White House just released a year-long study of the U.S. defense industrial base that was billed as the deepest dive in decades into the state of the nation’s defense industry.

SN Military.Space | Air Force wants new GPS in orbit before year’s end • DoD big on OTAs • Space Force by 2020 a long shot
If all goes as planned, the Air Force should have one new GPS 3 satellite in orbit before the end of 2018.

SN Military.Space | Selling U.S. aerospace overseas amid trade tensions • U.S. Air Force excited about U.K. space • Quantum computing as space weapon
Trump administration officials are at the Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom this week on a mission to sell American aerospace and weapons.

How about a U.S. Space Guard? • DoD steps up AI push amid Google firestorm • DARPA lays groundwork for military LEO constellation
President Trump has floated a Space Force as a separate and equal branch of the military like the the Air Force. Now comes another thought: A Space Guard fashioned after the U.S. Coast Guard.