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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Calvelli is the first assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisitions and integration, a position created by Congress.
A third Ministry of Defence uses Evolution to provide connectivity for its army, navy, air force, special ground forces, and public sector organizations.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has called for the Space Force to innovate faster to counter China's advancements in space technology.
Congress signed legislation in December 2019 authorizing the U.S. Space Force as the nation’s sixth military branch within the Department of the Air Force.
The Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Air Force selected five companies on 2022-10-26 to help build weather models using data from satellites, aerial sensors, and terrestrial sensors.
The Air Force 557th Weather Wing is the U.S. military’s primary meteorology center and uses data from a wide range of sources to build weather models.
Tomorrow.io received a $19,300,000 U.S. Air Force contract last year to support development of the company’s weather satellites and to provide data as a service to military and other governmental agencies.
L3Harris developed the WFOV infrared sensor payload under a 2016 contract from the U.S. Air Force.
Under a contract awarded last year from the U.S. Air Force AFWERX program, Phase Four began working with iodine propellant.
L3Harris is one of five companies selected by the U.S. Air Force to be part of the Advanced Battle Management System Digital Infrastructure Consortium to design and develop the JADC2 digital backbone for the Department of the Air Force.
The Small Launch and Targets Division’s Office at Kirtland Air Force Base awarded a $29,900,000 task order to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation on 2022-09-30 for the Space Test Program STP-S29A launch service.
Kendall issued a list of focus areas for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, with the first being a resilient space order of battle.
Kayhan Space was selected by SpaceWERX for a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase 1 award to investigate how its Kayhan Proxima solution will enable in-space service assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities for the Department of the Air Force and U.S. Space Force through the Orbital Prime program.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall stated that space is a no man's land where each side has the other side under observation.
Some of the roughly 1,500 Air National Guard personnel who support space operations could choose to join the Space Force, while those who do not might be reassigned to support Air Force units.
United Launch Alliance launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite on a Delta 4 Heavy rocket on 2022-09-24 at 3:25 p.m. Pacific from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Space Launch Complex-6 was originally built in the 1960s to launch the Air Force’s never-flown Manned Orbital Laboratory.
When the U.S. Air Force announced in 2018 it would stop buying SBIRS satellites and acquire Next-Gen OPIR, officials argued that the new satellites would be less costly and more survivable than SBIRS.
L3Harris is building a navigation satellite for the U.S. Air Force using a Northrop Grumman bus that is projected to launch in 2023.
Katalyst received U.S. Air Force small business innovation research funding to develop software that characterizes objects in orbit using advanced algorithms to assist with attribution.