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.
By Theresa Hitchens“We are clearly moving away from airborne ISR assets and moving into space. It’s the absolute right thing to do from a resiliency and sustainability perspective,” Air Force space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli said.
By Theresa HitchensThe combat squadron arrangement aligns the Space Force with how the Air Force, Army and Navy present and deploy forces to combatant commands, such as Indo-Pacific and European Command, said Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, head of Space Forces-Space.
By Theresa HitchensThe new version of Joint Publication 3-14 explains that “offensive and defensive space operations” are supported primarily by “direct capabilities” — that is, “fires that impact an adversary.”
By Theresa Hitchens“There comes a point where there’s so many combatant commanders and so many service chiefs that I wonder at what point does the secretary of defense have a span of control where… getting to a decision and getting the right perspectives on the table becomes really difficult,” the Marine Corps leader said.
By Justin KatzThe new Space Forces – Indo-Pacific component command is headed by Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, and comprises 21 Guardians embedded at US Indo-Pacific Command.
By Theresa Hitchens“We have spent a lot of time admiring the problem of how to be responsive in space,” SSC head Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein said. “We are done admiring the problem and we are getting after the combatant commands’ need to truly protect and defend the peaceful use of space.”
By Theresa HitchensWith an eye on China, the plan is to start in the Indo-Pacific, Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman, deputy chief of space operations, cyber and nuclear, told the Defense Writers Group.
By Theresa HitchensThe funding aligns with the Defense Department’s AI efforts, notably the AI and Data Acceleration initiative announced last year by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
By Jaspreet Gill“So if you don’t have an integration layer like that, then you have to go find all of the data sources yourself… This is something we don’t have yet in the department,” Lt. Gen. Michael Groen told Breaking Defense.
By Jaspreet GillIt remains to be seen if the creation of a new Joint Force Space Component Command will help or hurt the chain of command for military space.
By Theresa HitchensHeidi Shyu, the Pentagon’s top R&D official, is seeking funding in FY22 to start a new round of experiments in FY23.
By Valerie InsinnaTwo types of expert teams will help the 11 Combatant Commands make better use of data for decision-making, the deputy Defense Secretary said.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.