Last week, we reported that there were high-level meetings in July and August about how to protect US space assets from anti-satellite threats like that tested early this year by China. Outgoing Air Force Undersecretary Ron Sega described the group as “the large community” of space leaders. The Air Force since explained that the meetings were “Space Protection Summits” of three- and four-star USAF officers, along with “senior representatives from the broader national security space community to include the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and NASA.” Another such summit is planned for this month.
As the U.S. war with Iran intensifies, the Pentagon is rushing more warplanes to the region, deploying Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-35 Lightning II fighters to the Middle East, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.