According to a July 1 Associated Press report, the National Reconnaissance Office plans initially to procure one or two commercial imagery satellites and later to build a more advanced spacecraft to fulfill the Broad Area Surveillance Intelligence Capability satellite system requirement. BASIC is the successor to the failed Future Imagery Architecture program. AP reports an announcement could be made this week, after months of debate over who should own and operate the new system and whether its product should go first to fill the needs of combatant commanders or policymakers.
The Space Force's first planned satellite launch to begin a new missile warning constellation in medium-Earth orbit has slipped from late 2026 to spring 2027 as a key component remains unproven. But the service is making progress and moving forward with plans for new batches of satellites, the Guardian in charge…
