US Air Forces in Europe has worked with German officials to change business practices in the huge Kaiserslautern Military Community Center project to get the “slowed” effort back on track, according to a USAFE release, which also noted that an infusion of German government funds has helped kick-start matters. The project has been the subject of Congressional scrutiny. USAFE engineering personnel identified problems, later documented by the Air Force Audit Agency, when the German construction agent was late in submitting change orders—that stalled US payments. Col. David Reynolds, new KMCC resident director, said, “Construction has slowed but has never stopped on this project.” Part of the problem, he said, was the size of the project, requiring the German agent to manage more contractors than in past projects. According to the release, USAFE and the German government “are confident” the project will be completed within its budget. Both the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and German officials have been investigating possible corruption in the endeavor.
As it develops new weapons to attack satellites, the U.S. Space Force is focused more on ground-based efforts where the technology is more mature, the service’s top general said April 3.