Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024
The potential price of a proposed Space Force leads off this Monday INSIDER Daily Digest.
We now have a better idea of how much it would cost to establish a new Space Force:
Air Force projects Space Force will cost $12.9 billion through 2025
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The Air Force estimates establishing a new space service would cost $12.9 billion from fiscal years 2020 to 2025 and require an additional 13,000 personnel, according to a new memo obtained by Inside Defense.
The number of Air Force aircraft squadrons is set to increase:
SECAF: Air Force to add 74 operational squadrons from 2025 to 2030
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced today the service will grow its total number of operational squadrons from 312 to 386 -- a 25 percent increase it plans to implement between fiscal years 2025 and 2030.
The Air Force will be giving a close look at imaging and targeting support:
Air Force ISR PEO looks to speed, lower cost of sensor acquisition
DAYTON, OH – Rapid-acquisition authorities could bring down the cost of next-generation sensor development, particularly for geospatial and signals intelligence, according to the Air Force's program executive officer for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and special-operations assets.
Continuing our coverage of the FY-19 defense spending conference bill released last week:
Spending bill increases reporting requirements for OTAs
The fiscal year 2019 defense spending bill agreed to by conference negotiators adds new reporting requirements for Defense Department other transaction agreements and mandates a comptroller general review of their use, but it doesn't change DOD's ability to use such agreements.
Light-attack procurement effort receives $100 million in final spending bill
Congressional appropriators this week agreed to put $100 million toward the early stages of the Air Force’s O/A-X light-attack aircraft procurement program, after the Senate proposed three times as much money but the House offered none.
Lawmakers rescind $115 million in FY-18 Tomahawk funding, direct 'full review' of program
Lawmakers have rescinded $115 million in fiscal year 2018 Tomahawk missile funding and directed the Navy secretary to conduct a full program review following the service's request to repurpose some of those funds.
Army's Stryker upgrade plans still under scrutiny
House and Senate appropriators are backing the Army's aim to upgrade its Stryker combat vehicles -- approving $94 million more than requested -- but are not assured the service has a feasible plan to complete the upgrades at the desired rate.
Lockheed Martin has received an Air Force contract to build 22 follow-on GPS III satellites:
USAF awards Lockheed contract for up to $7.2B in sole-source GPS III Follow-On deal
The Air Force formally announced late last week that it has awarded GPS III incumbent Lockheed Martin a sole-source contract worth up to $7.2 billion to develop 22 follow-on satellites.
The Army will have several important responsibilities in the Pentagon's effort to develop a new hypersonic missile:
Army tapped for key roles in new DOD-wide effort to develop, build common hypersonic weapon
Pentagon leaders have assigned the Army key responsibilities to synchronize Defense Department-wide activities to continue development of -- and prepare for production of -- a new class of long-range, ultrafast maneuvering missiles.
The Air Force has changed the design of the oxygen system on board the T-6 trainer aircraft:
Air Force announces measures to address T-6 physiological episodes
The Air Force announced last week a number of efforts to address an uptick in unexplained physiological events experienced by training pilots, including a redesign of the T-6 onboard oxygen-generating system and adoption of new maintenance procedures.