The Pentagon issued a “Plan for Operationally Responsive Space” with no fanfare in April, in response to Congressional direction. We have a copy now. The focus of the plan is on the establishment of the ORS office, which it has placed at Kirtland AFB, N.M., “to enable a quick stand up and to maximize synergy with on-going Air Force efforts in small satellites, launches, and ranges.” The plan confirms that the DOD Executive Agent for Space—a position filled by the Undersecretary of the Air Force—will oversee the new office and serve as acquisition executive. The ORS office will comprise 10 to 20 military and civilian positions and will be a joint duty assignment for military personnel. DOD expects to staff the ORS office with “small integrated teams of experienced and diverse backgrounds consisting of warfighters, operators, scientists, engineers, and acquisition specialists.”
The Air Force awarded a $13.08 billion contract to the Sierra Nevada Corporation on April 26 for its Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft, the successor to the service’s E-4B “Doomsday” plane. Like the E-4B, officially called the National Airborne Operations Center, the SAOC will be meant to withstand a nuclear attack and keep…