Air Force Space Command boss Gen. Kevin Chilton, told attendees at the Colorado Springs space symposium last week that the things that can threaten his command’s ability to preserve space effects for the warfighters include simple malfunctions like a software code issue, broken wire, or burned out amplifier, or unintentional “blue on blue” jamming, or even weather—both terrestrial and space—problems, space debris, and “nefarious operations.” To confront any of these threats, AFSPC must have “appropriate space situational awareness,” said Chilton. He continued: “I want to be predictive in this area. I want to have focused intelligence invested in our space operations to the point that I’m getting tips and cues; that I know before they launch—what’s coming. That’s the kind of focused intelligence every commander demands in the domain they operate in.” (Chilton’s full remarks.)
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.