As the Air Force starts to bring new space systems online, the focus should remain on affordability and reliability, David Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Orbital Sciences Corp., said at AFA’s Global Warfare Symposium in Los Angeles. He suggested disaggregating the technology base and investing in smaller, less complicated platforms with one or two payload systems on board. “Then our supply chains become more efficient and it will make the products more affordable,” Thompson told symposium attendees during the Nov. 18 industry panel.
The Air Force budget would grow to $234 billion while Space Force spending would shrink to $26 billion under the White House's yearly ask.