SpaceNews — Under a new strategy, the U.S. Space Force is looking to leverage commercial phased-array technology and walk away from customized designs.
Space Force Officials Preparing for More Budget Growth in 2027
Air and Space Forces Magazine — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said the U.S. Space Force is looking to add capability in areas like testing and training infrastructure and space weapon systems in fiscal year 2027.
Space Force Modernization Push Runs Into Acquisition Workforce Shortfall
SpaceNews — The U.S. Space Force’s push to accelerate procurement of new systems is running up against a basic constraint: not enough contracting officers and financial managers to execute the work.
Space Force Hopes to Speed Satellites to Track Aircraft, Missiles
Breaking Defense — Gen. Chance Saltzman, U.S. Space Force chief, said the work already done to design a satellite system for tracking ground targets should also help speed Airborne Moving Target Indicators (AMTI) capabilities to orbit.
The Coming Wave of Competition in LEO Constellations
Via Satellite — After years of Starlink holding a commanding lead in LEO broadband, analysts and industry experts see a shift in the constellation race. Aggressive launch schedules for new services, differentiated offerings, and geopolitics are all driving greater competition in an expanding market.
US Air Force Plans to Expand Use of Portfolio Acquisition Executives Over the Next Year
Aerospace America — The Air Force’s new acquisition approach will eventually result in about 18 portfolio acquisition executives, Secretary Troy Meink said. These PAEs will “have all the contracting, finance” personnel directly under their authority.
DAF Shakes Up Space Acquisition Leadership, Purdy Takes ‘Senior Advisor’ Role
Breaking Defense — Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who until recently was running the space acquisition program at the Department of the Air Force, has been shifted out of that office to serve as “senior advisor” to Secretary Troy Meink.
Space Force Halts Vulcan Missions Pending Investigation Into Solid Rocket Issue
SpaceNews — The U.S. Space Force said it will not fly additional national security missions on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket until an investigation is completed into a performance anomaly during a Feb. 12 launch.
The Space Supply Chain is Getting Stretched. Here’s How it Could Impact the Pentagon’s Plans.
Breaking Defense — Companies involved in manufacturing satellites may shift their sights away from DoD to supplying commercial players simply due to the economies of scale. Another complicating factor is that DoD demand can be fickle as it is dependent on the annual budget and political winds.
In Space Traffic Coordination, the Biggest Challenge May Be Coordination
SpaceNews — The Office of Space Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, includes contact information for satellite owner-operators, but it can still be difficult for countries or operators to contact each other.