The United States will engage “in expanded international cooperation in space” and pursue cooperative activities “to the greatest extent practicable” in areas like space exploration, according to the new National Space Policy issued by the White House Monday. In a statement, President Obama said cooperation is one of the “central goals” of the new policy. This will not only “ward off conflict, but will help to expand our capacity to operate in orbit and beyond,” he said. As part of this goal, the document states that the US “will pursue bilateral and multilateral transparency and confidence-building measures to encourage responsible actions in space.” And it “will consider proposals and concepts for arms control measures if they are equitable, effectively verifiable, and enhance the national security.” The new document supersedes the previous space policy that the Bush Administration released in October 2006. (Obama statement) (Defense Secretary Robert Gates statement) (White House fact sheet) (National Space Policy full document)
Navy CCA Program’s Shape Coming into Focus
Oct. 17, 2025
In announcing its Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract, General Atomics has provided some clues as to where the service is heading with its version of an armed, autonomous fighter escort. It will likely be quite different from the Air Force version.