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.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.