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 new Air Force organization is searching for counter-drone firms to participate in a dozen or more exercises to help create operating plans by the end of this year for defending the service’s U.S.-based installations from drone attacks.