Courtney Albon
Courtney Albon is the Space Editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine. She has been covering the U.S. military since 2012, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. During that time, she has reported on some of the Defense Department’s most significant acquisition, budget and policy challenges, including the F-35 fighter jet, hypersonic capability development and the creation of the Space Force.
Recent stories by Courtney Albon
New Golden Dome ‘Ecosystem Hub’ Will Vet New Tech, Monitor Industrial Base
The leaders of the Pentagon’s Golden Dome program say a new “Ecosystem Hub” will make it easier for companies to pitch technology for the effort and for the government to monitor supply chain and cyber risks.
Pentagon Pushes Back on CBO’s Trillion-Dollar Golden Dome Estimate
A Congressional Budget Office estimate that pegs the 20-year cost of the Pentagon’s Golden Dome program at $1.2 trillion dollars is based on inaccurate assumptions about the advanced missile shield’s architecture, according to the general in charge of the project.
US Space Command, Allies Crafting Ops Plan for Orbital Warfare
U.S. Space Command is working with close allies to define a joint plan for how to protect and defend space assets from threats in orbit, according to Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting.
Golden Dome Could Cost $1.2 Trillion Over 20 Years, CBO Says
The Pentagon’s Golden Dome project could cost about $1.2 trillion over the next two decades, and it still may not be able to fend off a major missile attack from from Russia or China, according to a new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
Space Force to Overhaul Key Early Warning, Surveillance Radars Around the World
The Space Force plans to overhaul eight legacy missile warning and space surveillance radars located around the world, taking them from analog to digital operations, according to a May 7 notice.
Missile Defense Agency Plans Counter-Hypersonic Test in Fiscal 2027
The Missile Defense Agency plans to test its ability to track and take down a hypersonic missile, staging a test flight in fiscal 2027 called “Project Maverick.”
AFRL Restructures amid Pentagon’s Innovation Reform Effort
The Air Force Research Laboratory is undergoing a major reorganization, consolidating 11 of its organizations into seven as part of a broader Pentagon effort to get more technology from the lab to users in the field.
Space Force Adds $4B to Andromeda Contract for Surveillance and Recon Satellites
Anticipating significant demand in the coming years for reconnaissance and surveillance satellites, the Space Force is increasing the ceiling value of its recently awarded Andromeda contract from $1.8 billion to more than $6.2 billion.
Space Force Eyes Operations ‘Hub’ for Expansive Data Transport Constellation
The Space Force plans to stand up a Mission Operations Center to manage the backbone of its hybrid commercial-government data transport constellation, the Space Data Network.
Pentagon’s Big Bet on Reconciliation Sparks Lawmaker Concerns
The Pentagon is counting on Congress to navigate a legislative tightrope and pass a party-line bill to fund nearly a quarter of its $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal 2027, including billions of dollars for top priorities like Golden Dome, the F-35, munitions, and unmanned ...
Trump Picks Schiess as Next Space Force Chief
Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess has been nominated by President Donald Trump to become the next Chief of Space Operations, the top uniformed leader in the U.S. Space Force.
USSF Budget Offers First Glimpse at Plans for ‘Space Data Network’
The Space Force plans to expand the scope of its data transport constellation in the next few years, kick-starting a competition to bring on new commercial capabilities and procuring nine launches in fiscal 2027 to support the hybrid satellite communications network.
Space Force Proposes Canceling Polar Missile Warning Program
The Space Force is proposing to cancel a $3.4 billion program intended to provide missile warning and tracking coverage of the northern polar region as part of its 2027 budget request.
Commercial Tech Funding Baked in to Space Force Budget, Officials Say
The Space Force’s fiscal 2027 budget request includes about $2.5 billion for commercial services like satellite communications and off-the-shelf capabilities, but officials say commercial components and technology are embedded throughout programs, making the true allocation much higher.
Space Force Reveals $3.2B in Space-Based Interceptor Awards for Golden Dome
The Space Force has awarded 20 contracts worth up to $3.2 billion to 12 companies since last year to develop space-based interceptor capabilities, Space Systems Command announced April 24, providing new details on the firms involved and the scope of their work.