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 Air Force started the FORGE program in 2019 to serve as the ground system for SBIRS and for Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites projected to be launched over the next decade.
The U.S. Air Force had planned to stop buying WGS satellites after the 10th was delivered.
SpaceX received a contract from the U.S. Air Force in February 2019 to launch NROL-87.
The second COSMO-SkyMed CSG satellite was launched at 00:11 CET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The U.S. Air Force decided in 2018 to terminate the JMS program following years of cost overruns and criticism for poor performance.
The DEFORMO project seeks to develop an Air-to-Space Laser Communications Pod that could be deployed on a variety of USAF aircraft.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall prioritized energizing the Space Force’s procurement bureaucracy in 2022 to acquire advanced technologies for satellite protection.
The U.S. Air Force awarded SpaceX a $102,000,000 five-year contract on 2022-01-14 to demonstrate technologies and capabilities to transport military cargo and humanitarian aid around the world on a heavy rocket.
Colonel Eric Felt has led the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, since July 2018.
The missile warning, tactical ISR, and space data transport architecture designs will be reviewed by the Department of the Air Force and Defense Department leadership with the goal of funding new systems in the fiscal year 2024 budget request.
Under the $280,000,000 contract, Bluestaq is broadening the scope of the UDL beyond space data to support the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System.
Brandywine Photonics won an Air Force Small Business Innovation Research contract in 2018 to develop a theater weather imaging and cloud characterization sensor.
Under its Air Force contract, Tomorrow.io will provide data-as-a-service to the military and other governmental agencies, including NOAA.
Atomos Space has won and executed over $2,000,000 in contracts with NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Space Force.
Tomorrow.io won a $19,300,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force to support deployment of a radar-equipped weather satellite constellation.
SpaceX is slated to launch two satellites for Space Norway late 2022 carrying payloads for the U.S. Air Force, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, and British satellite operator Inmarsat.
Atomos Space has executed over $2,000,000 in contracts with NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Space Force to support its OTV plans.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office and the Space Systems Command report directly to the four-star chief of space operations and receive procurement authorities from the service’s civilian acquisition executive under the secretary of the Air Force.
Virgin Orbit signed a deal with the U.S. Space Force in 2020 to launch from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
An environmental review for Virgin Orbit launches from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam was completed in 2021, but a launch from Guam has not yet been scheduled.