Air Force Space Command merged its program offices for space-based missile warning and defense weather systems into a new, single entity, announced Space and Missile Systems Center officials. The newly activated Remote Sensing Systems Directorate “will accelerate the pace of warfighter support through innovation, while realizing efficiencies to keep our space systems affordable,” said SMC Commander Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves in the April 15 release. “By merging two world-class acquisition teams, we intend to deliver ground-breaking new products and leverage existing and planned … platforms to create more affordable and resilient capabilities,” added Col. Mike Guetlein, director of the new organizations at Los Angles AFB, Calif. RSSD essentially brings together management of the mission areas for overhead persistent infrared surveillance and for space and terrestrial weather monitoring.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
