The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the Air Force might be searching for an outside firm of engineers to oversee systems integration of its new GPS III satellites, according to “industry and government officials.” The Air Force has run into cost and schedule problems with numerous high profile space systems, so presumably this type arrangement would fill some gap in oversight capability. The Air Force is not commenting, yet.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…

