ACC chief, Gen. Ronald Keys told Washington-based defense reporters Thursday that there are other platforms, besides a B-52 standoff jammer, and other capabilities that could share in the jamming mission. He said he is considering using systems such as the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to kill threats. Other platforms, Keys explained, could include a C-130 variant of current and new fighters with advanced radar systems to “see and block surface to air missiles.”
A new White House policy calls for the Pentagon to craft plans for additional space launch facilities to support a projected increase in launch demand that could see the U.S. supporting as many as 1,000 launches by 2030, more than a fivefold increase from 2025.