The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the Air Force might be searching for an outside firm of engineers to oversee systems integration of its new GPS III satellites, according to “industry and government officials.” The Air Force has run into cost and schedule problems with numerous high profile space systems, so presumably this type arrangement would fill some gap in oversight capability. The Air Force is not commenting, yet.
It is critical that the Air Force move forward on the replacement for its E-4B “Doomsday” aircraft to keep the capability “viable” into the next decade and beyond, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. told lawmakers May 8.