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.
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The Air Force would seek additional resources to add 40 more people to the Space Force headquarters beyond the 160 requested for 2019-10-01.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson challenged the Space Development Agency's plan on 2019-04-09.
Without LSA funding, Blue Origin would not build a New Glenn vertical integration facility required for some military payloads or a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base for polar launches.
Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, and Northrop Grumman were chosen in October by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to share $2,300,000,000 in Launch Service Agreement funding.
Before the Launch Service Agreement award, Northrop Grumman and the Air Force had invested more than $300,000,000 in developing OmegA.
Parsons won a contract in February worth up to $100,000,000 over five years from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise Directorate to serve as prime contractor for the integration of small satellites with launch vehicles.
The Air Force requires the three LSA winners plus SpaceX to submit new proposals in 2019 to be eligible for selection as one of two providers in 2020 to split up to 25 future launch contracts.
In the second phase of the Launch Service Agreement, the Air Force plans to select two providers in 2020 to split 60/40 up to 25 launches over five years starting in 2022.
The U.S. Air Force aims to solicit proposals in spring 2019 and select two preferred launch providers in 2020.
Blue Origin requests that the U.S. Air Force wait until 2021 before selecting the two companies to receive future national security launch contracts.
Northrop Grumman is eligible to receive up to $792,000,000 from the Air Force to support development of the OmegA solid-fueled rocket.
The Space Development Agency will work with existing providers including the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and the Army’s and Navy’s space procurement offices.
Lester Lyles, a retired Air Force general, proposed the task force and serves as chairman of the Users’ Advisory Group’s exploration and discovery subcommittee.
United Launch Alliance is eligible to receive up to $967,000,000 from the Air Force to support development of the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
The U.S. Air Force requires at least two Vulcan missions with commercial customers as a prerequisite for Vulcan certification to launch national security payloads.
Under Blue Origin’s LSA award, the Air Force agreed to provide Blue Origin up to $500,000,000 between 2019 and 2024 to prepare the reusable New Glenn rocket and associated infrastructure for military launches.
Orbital Atlas will be tested at the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and at the National Space Defense Center at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.
The Air Force is developing the Joint Space Operations Center Mission System Increment 2 (JMS) as its next-generation space situational awareness system.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded Slingshot Aerospace a $6,000,000 two-year contract to customize the company’s Orbital Atlas predictive space situational awareness software for possible military use.
Relativity has an initial agreement with the U.S. Air Force to develop a launch facility at Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.