Courtney Albon

Courtney Albon was senior editor for aviation and space at Inside Defense until December 2021. She covered the Air Force since 2012, reporting largely on space programs and fighter aircraft acquisition, development and budget from inside Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and from military installations around the United States. Courtney previously worked as a general assignment reporter at The Ashland Times-Gazette in Ashland, OH, covering education and local government. She graduated from American University in 2008, where she studied journalism and sociology.

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Archived Articles
The Insider | August 18, 2021

Raytheon Technologies announced this week it completed a critical design review for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared system Block 0 sensor payload.

The Insider | August 17, 2021

Raytheon announced today it has named former under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness Matt Donovan as vice president of customer engagement and solutions within its intelligence and space business.

The Insider | August 17, 2021

The Space Force will officially activate Space Training and Readiness Command next week during a ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base, CO.

The Insider | August 16, 2021

The Air Force recently awarded contracts to Kratos and General Atomics to continue development and experimentation on the Skyborg program.

The Insider | August 16, 2021

The F-35 joint program office and Lockheed Martin this summer have deployed Operational Data Integrated Network hardware at two additional squadrons, the program announced last week.

The Insider | August 13, 2021

The Space Force today officially redesignated the Space and Missile Systems Center as Space Systems Command, establishing the new field command as an acquisition hub for the service.

The Insider | August 12, 2021

The Space Development Agency is on track to release a formal solicitation for its Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites on Aug. 27.

Daily News | August 12, 2021

As the Space Force plans for its next phase of competition for the National Security Space Launch program, Northrop Grumman officials said this week they are closely watching the process as they weigh whether to invest in a system to compete for that effort.

Space Briefing | August 5, 2021

Welcome to today’s Space Briefing -- a biweekly roundup of the latest national security space news.

The Insider | August 5, 2021

The mission payload for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared geosynchronous program recently completed a critical design review.

Daily News | August 4, 2021

The director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's space vehicles directorate this week called for "a more balanced investment strategy" that considers what future space capabilities may be needed to address long-term threats.

Daily News | August 4, 2021

As the Air Force works to finalize requirements for the KC-Y bridge tanker effort, the service this week received input from industry on non-developmental refueling capabilities that may be available to supplement the tanker fleet by the end of this decade.

Daily News | July 30, 2021

The Air Force's fiscal year 2022 budget request reflects a re-baselined F-35A retrofit strategy, showing the service expects to eventually upgrade a total of 483 jets in low-rate initial production lots 5-16 to either a Block 4 configuration or a partial retrofit to include Technology Refresh 3 -- up from 457 aircraft in last year's request.

The Insider | July 29, 2021

The Space Development Agency now plans to use the Space Force's National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract to carry the next tranche of satellites for its transport layer.

Daily News | July 28, 2021

The Defense Department's fiscal year 2023 budget may provide some insight into who will be responsible for the tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission in the future.

Daily News | July 28, 2021

House lawmakers want more information on the implications of shifting some contractor-led F-35 maintenance requirements to the government and are proposing a Comptroller General study on the topic.

Daily News | July 28, 2021

In parallel with a slew of tactical aircraft portfolio deep-dives the Defense Department and the Air Force have undertaken in the last year, House lawmakers propose directing the Government Accountability Office to conduct its own review of the services’ fighter force structure and inventory requirements to identify gaps and future requirements.

Daily News | July 27, 2021

House lawmakers want to place limits on the Air Force's plan to retire 45 C-130 airlifters over the next several years, proposing a 287-aircraft floor on the inventory that would remain in place through fiscal year 2026.

The Insider | July 27, 2021

The House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee is proposing language in its fiscal year 2022 draft defense policy bill directing the Defense Department to provide details on its space launch range infrastructure needs and to develop a plan for incorporating more commercial capabilities into its national security space architecture.

The Insider | July 26, 2021

The Air Force may award a second company a Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar integration contract next month, a spokesman confirmed today.

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