The Department of Defense (DOD) is a U.S. government agency responsible for military and national security space activities. It acts as a major procurer and operator of space systems, including launch vehicles and satellite systems for reconnaissance, missile launch detection, navigation, and communication. The DOD aims to maintain space superiority, integrate military space power, and ensure space stability, working with commercial firms to integrate space solutions into national security architectures.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Department of Defense is working with Congress on legislation to create a separate department for a Space Force.
The Department of Defense has proposed establishing a Space Development Agency charged with rapidly developing and fielding next-generation space technologies.
The Department of Defense submitted a proposal to Congress on 2018-08-09 proposing an independent U.S. Space Command to improve and evolve space warfighting, including integrating innovative force designs, concepts of operation, doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
National security space spending across the Department of Defense is roughly $17,000,000,000 to $18,000,000,000 per year.
A Pentagon report to Congress on 2018-08-09 defines the Space Force mission as protecting the economy through deterrence of malicious activities, ensuring space systems meet national security requirements, and providing vital capabilities to joint and coalition forces.
On 2018-08-22 in Carlsbad, California, Viasat announced that its Battlefield Awareness and Targeting System – Dismounted (BATS-D), known to the U.S. Department of Defense as the AN/PRC-161, received National Security Agency authorization for immediate use by Five Eyes partners and coalition forces worldwide.
Pentagon policies require defense organizations to identify critical information and communications technology components and procure them from trusted suppliers.
An audit by the Defense Department’s inspector general office found security cracks in the supply chain of four critical military space programs.
The Pentagon plans to establish a Space Force, as announced by Vice President Mike Pence.
Griffin is responsible for the research and engineering portfolio within the Pentagon.
Griffin stated that the average Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA program takes 16.5 years to get from 'statement of need' to 'initial operational capability.'
The Department of Defense will create the governance and support functions of the Space Force and will build a legislative proposal for congressional consideration as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 budget cycle.
The Pentagon will develop a Space Operations Force to provide expertise to combatant commanders and the Space Development Agency and to surge expertise in time of crisis.
The DoD report states the Department of Defense will establish an affordable and efficient operating structure with accountable civilian oversight to provide service and support functions for the Space Force.
The Pentagon will establish a Space Development Agency to develop and field space capabilities at speed and scale.
Observers have raised the possibility that the Department of Defense could recommend a unified Space Command instead of creating a separate military service.
President Donald Trump on 2018-06-18 ordered the Pentagon to form an independent branch of the military focused on space.
Since 2009 the Department of Defense has used three commercially hosted payloads and had three more missions planned or underway through 2022.
Language in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act directs the Pentagon to assume oversight of military investments in hosted payloads.
President Donald Trump on 2018-06-18 ordered the Pentagon to form a sixth branch of the military dedicated to space.