The Department of Defense and Intelligence Community are preparing to submit to Congress a revised acquisition strategy for the Space Radar program, Scott Large, director of the National Reconnaissance Office, said March 5. “We believe we have a solution set,” Large told the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee. “I’m hoping that within 45 days we’ll be able to come back to the committee with more details of what the plan is.” Congress has remained critical of previous strategies put forth for the ambitious orbital radar system and has cut back on activities, demanding a more realistic approach. Developmental activities have been occurring under classified IC budgets of late. “Between both the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, the DNI, I believe we have mapped out what we believe is an alternative approach that addresses, first of all, the Congress’s concerns about affordability, scope, timelines, and so on.,” Large said. DOD and the IC are now “in the process of socializing” the new plan through both communities to ensure that everyone’s needs are met and concerns are addressed, he said.
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.
