‘Changes’ expected in ISR satellite operations to sort NGA, Space Force roles: White House official

‘Changes’ expected in ISR satellite operations to sort NGA, Space Force roles: White House official
‘Changes’ expected in ISR satellite operations to sort NGA, Space Force roles: White House official

“In the end, what we’re really going to have to figure out here is: what needs to change? Is it policies? Is it authorities? Is it processes? Is it funding? Is it purely just advocacy and communication?” said National Space Council Director Chirag Parikh.

NGA director pushes back at criticisms of agency, touts ‘wetware,’ tradecraft (EXCLUSIVE)

NGA director pushes back at criticisms of agency, touts ‘wetware,’ tradecraft (EXCLUSIVE)
NGA director pushes back at criticisms of agency, touts ‘wetware,’ tradecraft (EXCLUSIVE)

In an exclusive sit down with Breaking Defense, Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth defended his agency’s role in moving commercial and government satellite data to the field in a timely manner.

Air Force acquisition czar delays key milestone for ground moving target satellites

Air Force acquisition czar delays key milestone for ground moving target satellites
Air Force acquisition czar delays key milestone for ground moving target satellites

The delay in the review, however, is not expected to impact the planned delivery schedule, an Air Force spokesperson said. That said, neither the Pentagon nor the NRO has revealed the hoped-for schedule. 

Space Force gets vote on IC Commercial Space Council

Space Force gets vote on IC Commercial Space Council
Space Force gets vote on IC Commercial Space Council

The status change should give the Space Force more weight in debate about how to share acquisition authority for commercial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Space Force will ‘not support’ delays in ISR, tracking data to shooters: SpOC chief

Space Force will ‘not support’ delays in ISR, tracking data to shooters: SpOC chief
Space Force will ‘not support’ delays in ISR, tracking data to shooters: SpOC chief

Lt. Gen. David Miller, head of Space Operations Command, said the ongoing tussle with the Intelligence Community is like when dogs first meet in a dog park. “The dogs like spend five minutes sniffing each other’s butts. That’s the phase I think we’re in. We just need to get off that,” he said.

Army wants different GPS alternatives for different domains, including commercial tech

Army wants different GPS alternatives for different domains, including commercial tech
Army wants different GPS alternatives for different domains, including commercial tech

“I don’t want to take a very expensive, very, very capable [alternative] PNT system that belongs on, let’s say, a Stryker platform or an Abrams tank or something like that, and … stick it on the robot that is the one that I’m training to take first contact,” Michael Monteleone, head of the Army’s new All-Domain Sensing CFT, explained. 

Leidos nabs $206M bid to update software for NGA analysts

Leidos nabs $206M bid to update software for NGA analysts
Leidos nabs $206M bid to update software for NGA analysts

The new project, called Maru, “will provide the means to replace legacy applications and to integrate modernized exploitation capabilities for the IC, DoD and our international partners,” the NGA spokesperson told Breaking Defense.

Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel

Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel
Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel

More than a dozen sources tell Breaking Defense that tensions between the NGA and Space Force are rising on commercial ISR, with White House officials watching closely.

NRO moves closer to formal program to buy commercial radar-sat data

NRO moves closer to formal program to buy commercial radar-sat data
NRO moves closer to formal program to buy commercial radar-sat data

The executive branch is “still talking through exactly what the scope and scale” of any new NRO program would be, but the “intent” is to “more cost effectively leverage” commercial capabilities “over the longer term,” said NRO’s head of commercial programs Pete Muend.

NGA looking for commercial data to update intel on North Korea

NGA looking for commercial data to update intel on North Korea
NGA looking for commercial data to update intel on North Korea

“Approximately 90 [percent] of our foundational data is unclassified, which helps us share products more broadly with partners and allies across the globe,” a spokesperson for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency told Breaking Defense.

NGA eyes imminent, ‘significant’ contracts for commercial GEOINT object detection, analytics

NGA eyes imminent, ‘significant’ contracts for commercial GEOINT object detection, analytics
NGA eyes imminent, ‘significant’ contracts for commercial GEOINT object detection, analytics

NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth also gave an update on Project Maven and how NGA is working to incorporate artificial intelligence, responsibly, to sift through mountains of data.

Now that Maven is a program of record, NGA looks at LLMs, data labeling

Now that Maven is a program of record, NGA looks at LLMs, data labeling
Now that Maven is a program of record, NGA looks at LLMs, data labeling

“We’ve hit our milestones and you’ll start seeing as we look to the next few months a lot more activity from the Maven office in terms of contracting,” Rachel Martin said.

With new intel doctrine, Army turning its sights to ISR modernization

With new intel doctrine, Army turning its sights to ISR modernization
With new intel doctrine, Army turning its sights to ISR modernization

One of the questions the Army’s ISR Task Force is grappling with regard to sensing is how best to “leverage the vast proliferation of commercial satellite providers,” said task force director Andrew Evans.

As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap

As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap
As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap

When it comes to leveraging commercial space tech, one analyst said, “The old adage holds — show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities.”