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.
Lockheed Martin’s proposed autonomous drone, called Vectis, is still on track to fly a prototype by the end of 2027, an official from the company’s Skunk Works division said Sept. 10, and the firm already started work on four more Vectis aircraft.
