Lawmakers don’t understand the Transformational Communications Satellite program, writes Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, so have “slashed” funding and cast doubt on whether the TSAT constellation “will ever be built.” The long-time defense analyst declares, “Losing TSAT would be a tragedy, because it can fill many gaps in the existing communications system.” He notes that its higher-capacity links built around Internet-like connectivity would open all joint resources to warfighters in real time no matter where they are. But, Thompson questions whether “Congress can grasp the promise of TSAT.”
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…