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 2022 defense spending bill requests clarification of the roles and responsibilities of senior civilian and uniformed leaders with space responsibilities and asks for an explanation of what space acquisition units do, including the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Space Development Agency, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and space programs in the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.
Space Micro, owned by Voyager Space, won a separate U.S. Air Force SBIR contract in January to develop an optical terminal to connect satellites with military aircraft.
The omnibus bill directs the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Chief of Space Operations, to provide an acquisition strategy for tactically responsive space capabilities within 90 days of enactment.
Chicago-based SpiderOak won two U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research contracts in 2021 for OrbitSecure, an off-the-shelf product to enhance satellite and constellation cybersecurity.
The Space Force was purpose-built from the ground up with support from the U.S. Air Force, creating an operational partnership between the two services.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. John 'Jay' Raymond and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall directed a review of Space Systems Command shortly after SSC was established in August 2021.
Space Force leaders unveiled details of the Space Systems Command reorganization at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium on 2024-03-04.
The Space Systems Command overhaul reverses the previous SMC 2.0 structure that the Air Force conceived in 2018 and completed by 2019.
Frank Kendall issued a list of budget priorities called 'operational imperatives' for the Air Force and Space Force to better compete with China.
Frank Kendall noted that the Air Force uses aging and vulnerable legacy systems like JSTARS and AWACS radar aircraft.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall stated that the possibility of conflict in space is influencing military budget priorities for 2024.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Xplore a $50,000 contract in 2020 to study positioning, navigation and timing solutions for cislunar space.
David Buck, president of BRPH Mission Solutions and a retired Air Force lieutenant general, predicted the Defense Department would eventually become comfortable using other commercial spaceports.
The Department of the Air Force implemented Next-Gen OPIR GEO Block 0 as a Go Fast acquisition program.
The U.S. Air Force spent $1,500,000,000 on the Space Fence space surveillance radar to track objects in low Earth orbit.
The Air Force’s 2018 budget request did not include funding for WGS satellites beyond the 10 already ordered from Boeing.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $605,000,000 contract in April 2019 to design and build WGS-11+.
Northrop Grumman was awarded a SPOC contract by the U.S. Air Force in January 2020.
Northrop Grumman’s SPOC solution provides the U.S. Air Force with an open architecture, advanced connectivity capability designed to address near-term JADC2 mission needs.
In two U.S. Air Force demonstrations, Northrop Grumman partnered with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to showcase that the SPOC solution can operate simultaneous waveforms with an Open Mission Systems (OMS) interface, an industry first.