Lt. Gen. Robert Kehler told attendees Friday at AFA’s Los Angeles space symposium that operationally responsive space is something “we want across the board,” and “we need to focus more on timely and targeted needs.” Driving ORS is the need to connect space assets to the user more efficiently, more quickly, and less expensively. Kehler noted that part of this effort would evolve from reducing the cost and time involved with system development by capitalizing on emerging capabilities, such as deploying smaller platforms on lower cost vehicles. However, Kehler was quick to point out that the enterprise is not an issue of “big space bad, small space good.” He said that it’s about enabling architectures to solve warfighter problems.
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
