The Pentagon’s new Defense Space Council, chaired by Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, last week met for the first time, according to a Defense Department release. Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn recently created the council to coordinate space issues and strengthen space oversight across the Defense Department. It is now the principal senior-level advisory forum for these issues. First on the council’s agenda is to streamline the many defense and national security space committees, boards, and councils, according to the release. The DSC, which convened on Dec. 20, will review more than 15 space-related organizations and recommend their cancellation, consolidation, dissolution, or realignment under the council. The council’s formation is one of several space-related changes that Lynn has approved, including the realignment of the National Security Space office. Donley is the council chair since the USAF Secretary serves as DOD executive agent for space.
Bell Textron has won DARPA's contest for a no-runway, high-speed drone that will prove out technologies useful for special operations forces and possibly the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept. Bell's design converts a tiltrotor to a jet-powered aircraft able to fly at up to 450 knots.