Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said that preserving the nation’s long range strike capability is a critical challenge, placing it among four top imperatives the Pentagon must address. Lynn said Jan. 21 at a Washington defense conference that the US must have the ability to confront distant and deep threats, but he acknowledged that the LRS mission is “fraught with challenges” that cannot be met by a single solution. He explained, “We will be maturing a portfolio of capabilities” that range from manned and unmanned systems to penetrating and standoff capabilities—as well as ballistic and cruise missile weapons. Lynn has no doubt that the new technologies will preserve the nation’s ability to swiftly confront security threats. (Also see An Answer on the Next Bomber below)
The Space Force awarded three contracts for rocket launches worth up to a combined $13.68 billion on April 4—and the usual players SpaceX and United Launch Alliance have got some competition in the form of newcomer Blue Origin.