The Air Force is considering whether to transition its experimental Tactical Satellite 3 system to residual operating status upon completion of its on-orbit assessment in May, Gen. Robert Kehler, Air Force Space Command boss, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday. TacSat-3 was placed into orbit in May 2009. It was designed to demonstrate the military utility of a small satellite that is taskable by a tactical user in the field to search and collect specific hyperspectral images. So far, the experiment appears to have gone well. “TacSat-3 provides a new capability for strategic and tactical reconnaissance from space and continues to successfully provide military utility as a technology and test asset,” said Gary Payton, space czar in the Air Force Secretariat, who appeared with Kehler before the panel. (Kehler prepared remarks) (Payton prepared remarks)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.