There is still much Congressional concern over management of two key space programs—the Transformational Satellite and Space Radar—leading the strategic forces panel of the House Armed Services Committee to recommend cutting the Administration’s 2007 budget request for TSAT by $80 million and Space Radar by $30 million. A statement by panel chairman, Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.), indicates that the lawmakers support both programs but questioned whether the 2007 plans “were executable.” Air Force Undersecretary Ronald Sega informed lawmakers earlier of the service’s new direction for TSAT—employing a “fighter block approach”—and is working with combatant commanders to better define the Space Radar.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
