The U.S. Air Force (USAF) plays a significant role in the space industry, historically serving as the Department of Defense's executive agent for space, and developing early military space programs and launch vehicles. Although the U.S. Space Force was established as an independent branch in 2019, the Air Force continues to contribute to space operations, including training personnel, research and development, and maintaining partnerships. The USAF's space-related activities encompass satellite operations, missile warning, communication support, and collaboration with allies to ensure regional stability. Key partners include the U.S. Space Force, other branches of the military, and international allies.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The U.S. Air Force plans to select two launch providers for the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 competition in 2020.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $792,000,000 Launch Service Agreement contract in October to complete development of OmegA and the required launch sites.
The House Appropriations Committee’s report accompanying its 2020 defense funding bill suggested the Air Force should manage all satellite communications systems.
In fiscal year 2018 the Air Force requested an additional $344,000,000 for next-gen OPIR above what had been budgeted but only $112,000,000 was appropriated, leaving an unfunded balance of $232,000,000.
Raytheon’s contract with the Air Force requires delivery of a complete OCX system by June 2021.
The Air Force required hundreds of millions of dollars above its 2019-10-01 budget to accelerate the schedule of the next-gen OPIR overhead persistent infrared constellation.
Next-gen OPIR was $632,000,000 short of the funding the Air Force said it needed in the year to meet an initial launch capability of 2025 for the first satellite.
The Air Force originally envisioned achieving initial launch capability for next-gen OPIR in 2023 but revised that schedule to 2025 due to cost constraints.
The Air Force requested $1,400,000,000 for next-gen OPIR in fiscal year 2020.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center issued a request for information titled "Modular Enterprise Spacecraft Bus Procurement" with responses due 2019-04-03.
The Air Force requested $632,000,000 to be reprogrammed into its 2019 budget to fill funding shortfalls for next-gen OPIR.
The Air Force projected next-gen OPIR funding of $2,000,000,000 in 2021, $2,200,000,000 in 2022, $2,600,000,000 in 2023, and $3,000,000,000 in 2024 to speed development and production.
The 2019-10-01 Air Force budget and planned future budgets fully support a 2025 initial launch capability deadline for next-gen OPIR.
The SASC supports the Pentagon’s $13,190,000 request for the Rocket Systems Launch Program based at Kirtland Air Force Base.
The SASC supports the Pentagon’s $26,090,000 request for the Space Test Program based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
If neither selected Phase 2 provider can meet a mission schedule with primary or secondary vehicles, the Air Force could procure the mission from a third provider outside the Phase 2 contracts.
In 2016 the Air Force awarded $242,000,000 in cost-sharing R&D contracts to SpaceX, Orbital ATK (later Northrop Grumman), ULA and Aerojet Rocketdyne to develop rocket propulsion technology.
The Air Force initiated the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program in 1995 to develop a new generation of launch vehicles.
The Air Force procured six Atlas 5 launches since the 2017 NDAA restrictions went into effect, leaving up to 12 Atlas 5 launches available before 2022-12-31.
In October 2018 the Air Force awarded Launch Service Agreements that provided $2,300,000,000 to ULA, Northrop Grumman and Blue Origin to support development of next-generation rockets and infrastructure.