The Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System Program Office “for the first time ever” gave a coalition partner—Australia—access to space-based infrared data. The data actually came from DOD’s ancient Defense Support Program satellites. It was sent from California to Australia, where the Australians used their own gear to process the data and deliver “real-time” missile warnings back to Dahlgren, Va., site of the operations center for the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration Interoperability Trial. The Aussies were highly pleased, given that they do not have space assets of their own.
The Space Force’s small size has limited its capacity to consider what role it will play in future operations on and around the moon. That needs to change, according to Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Shawn Bratton.
