Lt. Gen. Robert Kehler told attendees Friday at AFA’s Los Angeles space symposium that operationally responsive space is something “we want across the board,” and “we need to focus more on timely and targeted needs.” Driving ORS is the need to connect space assets to the user more efficiently, more quickly, and less expensively. Kehler noted that part of this effort would evolve from reducing the cost and time involved with system development by capitalizing on emerging capabilities, such as deploying smaller platforms on lower cost vehicles. However, Kehler was quick to point out that the enterprise is not an issue of “big space bad, small space good.” He said that it’s about enabling architectures to solve warfighter problems.
The Department of the Air Force wants to launch a construction boom with its fiscal 2027 budget, more than doubling its request over 2026, according to budget documents.