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 Air Force will begin its 71st annual Operation Christmas Drop on Dec. 4. The weeklong exercise is a yearly tradition that delivers supplies such as food, fishing equipment, school books, and clothes to remote islands in the Pacific. It is the longest-running Department of Defense humanitarian mission.