The Federal Trade Commission has approved the formation of the United Launch Alliance, the merger of launch services provided by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Approval did not come quickly, and there may still be some disgruntled entities, but last week at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington, Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Air Force Space Command, maintained that the venture would save money and improve assured access to space. (Here are the Boeing and Lockheed Martin statements on the FTC clearance.)
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…