The Air Force let a $900 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for space launch services under the Rocket Systems Launch Program, announced the Pentagon. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin, Orbital Sciences, and Space Exploration Technologies will provide launch vehicles through November 2017, states the contract description, which is included in the Defense Department’s Dec. 3 list of major contracts. RSLP utilizes commercial launch systems as well as deactivated Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBM motors to place small spacecraft into a variety of orbits for DOD and other government agencies.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.