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 Launch Service Agreement program awarded $2,300,000,000 worth of contracts to United Launch Alliance, Northrop Grumman, and Blue Origin to develop next-generation launch vehicles.
SAIC completed a $2,500,000,000 acquisition of Engility two weeks before the Air Force made the EDIS award decision.
The EDIS work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by 2026-01-31.
The Air Force awarded Engility Corp., now owned by SAIC, a $655,000,000 contract for satellite ground systems engineering, development, integration, and sustainment.
The Air Force intends to end the direct ULA launch subsidy in 2020 as DoD shifts toward a more commercial approach to buying launch services.
The U.S. Air Force awarded a Launch Service Agreement to Northrop Grumman in October 2018 for the company's proposed OmegA rocket.
Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, and Northrop Grumman were recipients of U.S. Air Force funding last year collectively worth roughly $2,000,000,000 to develop rockets capable of launching military satellites.
The 2019 space launch budget included $445,000,000 in RDT&E to fund the Launch Service Agreement program, which was $200,000,000 more than the Air Force requested.
DARPA sought funding in the U.S. Air Force’s 2019 budget to secure a launch contract intended to get RSGS into orbit by spring 2021.
The Pentagon is finalizing a legislative proposal and budget request for fiscal year 2020 to submit to the White House that recommends creating a Space Force with its own four-star chief of staff and a civilian undersecretary of space under the Department of the Air Force.
A draft space policy directive orders the Defense Department to establish a U.S. Space Force as a sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces within the Department of the Air Force.
The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base supported 13 launches and three landings in 2018.
United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, and Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems collectively received $2,300,000,000 in Air Force funding to ensure their domestically produced commercial rockets can meet national security launch requirements.
The 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station supported 20 launches and 10 landings in 2018.
The United States Air Force selected both Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle and ULA’s Vulcan rocket in October 2018 under its Launch Services Agreement contract.
The E-4B fleet includes four militarized, nuclear-hardened Boeing 747 command-and-control airplanes operated by Air Force Global Strike Command.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center was established in 1954.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center is the center of technical excellence for developing, acquiring, fielding, and sustaining about $6,000,000,000 worth of military space systems.
The Air Force’s Space Enterprise Consortium was established in 2017 to attract startups and commercial companies and bring new space technology into defense programs.
The Air Force operates the SBIRS high constellation and has committed at least $3,000,000,000 to develop the next-generation Overhead Persistent Infrared system, or next-gen OPIR.