Congress decided to allocate $200 million for the Space Radar program, $66.4 million less than requested. Lawmakers specified in the 2007 defense authorization bill that those funds should go toward development of a single Space Radar system that meets joint requirements, including those of the Intelligence Community. Congress remains in a wait-and-see mode until the Air Force completes SR restructuring, possibly the same incremental, block approach the service plans for TSAT. Until then, lawmakers “do not believe it is prudent to move beyond technology development, systems engineering, and concept definition activities.” They also want the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence to submit a joint report by March 1, outlining respective roles and responsibilities, to include an updated memorandum of agreement.
Ukraine’s fleet of F-16 fighters has played a vital role in protecting the country against Russian aerial attacks, including the jet-powered drones the Russians have used to try to overpower Ukrainian air defenses, senior Ukrainian officials said. But Ukraine has a chronic need for spare parts to keep the venerable jets…