The first Operationally Responsive Space satellite, ORS-1, has achieved its initial/final operational capability, announced Air Force Space Command boss Gen. William Shelton. The satellite, which reached orbit in June 2011, includes a modified version of the SYERS-2 electro-optical/infrared imagery sensor employed by the U-2 surveillance aircraft. The satellite is helping to bolster the situational awareness of troops in Afghanistan. “Feedback we have received from US Central Command is that they are very pleased with the performance of ORS-1 to date,” said Thom Davis, ORS-1 program manager at Kirtland AFB, N.M. He added, “It is meeting requirements we established at the start of the program and they [USCENTCOM] are now finding new uses for it, so it continues to be a big impact to their overall mission operations.” The 1st Space Operations Squadron and Air Force Reserve Command’s 7th SOPS, both at Schriever AFB, Colo., control the satellite. (Kirtland report by Michael Kleiman)
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.