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.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…