Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne says that the lawmakers who received briefings on the tanker analysis of alternatives last week are pleased that the program is shaping up and “coming to a conclusion.” He predicts the long-awaited document will be released publicly in mid-March. He also thinks the Air Force finally will be able to release a request for information to industry shortly thereafter. If all goes as planned, a request for formal proposals would go out this fall. The competition will be “open to domestic and international” suppliers—read Boeing and Airbus—and he thinks there is “adequate” money in the future years defense program to get the program up to steam.
The Space Development Agency added 21 satellites to its nascent data transport network in an Oct. 15 launch, the second mission in a 10-month campaign to field 154 operational spacecraft.
