According to The Huntsville Times, the Army is still fighting centralized management of unmanned aerial vehicles. However, this time around, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council appears to have sided with the Air Force—at least somewhat. The JROC reportedly agrees that the Air Force should take point for higher-flying UAVs, but it wants to set up joint program offices. Still to come, though, is a decision on combat operational control. The Air Force wants medium to high altitude UAVs under the control of the joint air boss. And, late last month, the Government Accountability Office indicated that US Central Command deems that a “critical factor,” as well.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
