Shelley K. Mesch

Shelley K. Mesch joined Inside Defense as an Air Force reporter in 2022. She had previously reported on business, technology and innovation at The Salt Lake Tribune and the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Archived Articles
Daily News | March 12, 2024

While the fiscal year 2025 budget request includes what Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall called "tough decisions" to balance procurement and research, development, test and evaluation funds, the service's real budgetary challenges will come in future years.

Daily News | March 11, 2024

The Space Force did not request an increase in funding for fiscal year 2025 and instead reduced its budget by 2%, even as Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said he thinks the service needs to move faster.

Daily News | March 7, 2024

The Air Force's fiscal year 2025 budget request that will be announced Monday will be "unsatisfying," Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said today, as the service looks to modernize for what it calls "great power competition" amid congressional calls for fiscal moderation.

Daily News | March 7, 2024

The Air Force is waiting on the last test of the all-but-killed Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, and data from the program will help inform the mix of hypersonic capabilities the service looks for, acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said today.

Daily News | March 5, 2024

Army and Navy offices along with some combatant commands signed agreements to use the Space Development Agency's constellations of missile tracking and data transport satellites once the system is operational, SDA Director Derek Tournear said today.

The Insider | March 1, 2024

The Defense Department inspector general has opened an investigation into last year's decision to keep U.S. Space Command based in Colorado Springs, CO, which Republican lawmakers have blasted as a politically motivated choice.

Daily News | February 29, 2024

An independent analysis of the cost overruns tied to the intercontinental ballistic missile modernization program could delay an effort the Defense Department sees as vital to nuclear deterrence, U.S. Strategic Command Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton warned senators today.

Daily News | February 27, 2024

The Space Development Agency won't change its approach to creating the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in response to reports of a Russian space-based nuclear weapon, Director Derek Tournear said today.

Daily News | February 27, 2024

Two of the Space Development Agency's programs are on hold until Congress can pass a fiscal year 2024 budget, threatening the outfit's timeline for satellite launches, Director Derek Tournear said today.

Daily News | February 20, 2024

DENVER -- The Air Force has fielded 16 deployable computer hardware systems that are a key enabler of the Department of the Air Force Battle Network vision, according to the integrating program executive officer.

Daily News | February 14, 2024

DENVER -- To ensure U.S. access to space-launch capabilities, the Space Force will need to work with allies and partners to use or build launch facilities in other countries, the commander of U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific said.

Daily News | February 14, 2024

DENVER -- As part of the Air Force's organizational shakeup, the Space Force will create a new field command to streamline requirements generation for the young service.

Daily News | February 13, 2024

DENVER -- Senior Air Force leaders disclosed that negotiations with Boeing to contract for the first E-7A Wedgetail aircraft have been "difficult" due to non-recurring engineering development.

Daily News | February 12, 2024

DENVER -- Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall's massive restructuring of the service to compete against potential adversaries, such as China, will include a new command for generating capability requirements, a new process for deploying combat wings and elevated offices for electronic warfare and nuclear systems.

Daily News | February 9, 2024

The Air Force will develop several foundational architectures that acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said today will better integrate the service and boost competition for major programs.

Daily News | February 9, 2024

U.S. Northern Command has pushed the need for modernized over-the-horizon radar capabilities within a few years, which a major contractor said would be possible only if the Defense Department is able to issue contracts soon.

Daily News | February 7, 2024

Further delays in the Next Generation Operational Control System for the GPS enterprise could push back the launch date for the GPS III Follow-On satellites, according to the annual report from the director of operational test and evaluation.

Daily News | February 6, 2024

Space Systems Command is looking to develop and launch a set of prototype satellites for a GPS constellation, seemingly following the lead of the Space Development Agency's spiral development model.

The Insider | February 1, 2024

The Space Force will send its first guardian into space later this year as part of a NASA mission to the International Space Station, the service announced yesterday.

Daily News | January 31, 2024

The Air Force awarded the last of its indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts for the Advanced Battle Management System last year, and the awardees are now competing to bring their capabilities to fruition as the service seeks to rapidly field technology for its contribution to the Joint All Domain Command and Control effort. (UPDATED)

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