How to ensure the defense-industrial base and supply chain resiliency

On the same subject

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  May 22, 2019 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

  Eutelsat, Maxar Selected for NASA Study

  By Annamarie Nyirady Maxar Technologies and Eutelsat were selected to participate in NASA's Space Relay Partnership and Services Study. This studies future systems that could revolutionize NASA's space-based communications architecture through innovative technologies and commercial partnerships. The future architecture would be used for scientific and human exploration missions in Earth orbit, at the Moon, and throughout the solar system beginning in the mid-2020s. NASA's Space Communications and Navigation Program currently offers space-based radio frequency communications services for all of the agency's space communications activities via its Space Network. The Space Network consists of a constellation of geosynchronous satellites called TDRS and ground systems that operate as a relay system between satellites. Leveraging current and planned commercial communication and navigation infrastructure, Maxar will study concepts to augment the Space Network with more advanced optical communications capabilities and enhanced radio frequency services. Maxar will also study a framework that allows for a transition from government-owned and managed space services to commercially developed and operated services. This future architecture could unlock the promise of human exploration, new and greater scientific discovery, and reduce development and operations costs for future missions through improved communication and navigation services. More specifically, Eutelsat was selected for NASA's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2) as part of the NASA Space Relay Partnership and Services Study. The NextSTEP-2 program seeks to establish partnerships with U.S. companies to evaluate the incorporation of commercial elements into the future space relay services that will be provided by the agency's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Networks. https://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2019/05/16/eutelsat-maxar-selected-for-nasa-study/

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  October 11, 2018 | International, Land

  Inflection point: Army wrestles to strike balance between current and future capability

  WASHINGTON — The Army is at an inflection point. It's a statement its top leaders have acknowledged countless times in recent months as they have made the case to begin major investment in future capability. But to bring online state-of-the-art technology and weapons and equipment that will maintain overmatch against peer adversaries like Russia and China, the Army will need money. Lots of money. And that means, at some point soon, the Army will have to make difficult decisions on how long legacy weapon systems and planned upgrades for those capabilities can — or should — carry the service into the future. It is Army Secretary Mark Esper and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley's goal and mandate to have a fully modernized Army that aligns with the service's multidomain operations doctrine by 2028. It logically follows that to get there, much has to happen in the 10 years between now and then. The Army wants longer-range fires, new combat vehicles and tanks, two new helicopters, highly capable autonomous vehicles and aircraft, a robust and resilient network tying together everything on the battlefield, a layered and more advanced air-and-missile defense capability and more lethal systems for warfighters. These capabilities all fall under the Army's top six modernization priorities, which the service laid out a year ago in an overarching modernization strategy. The Army then stood up Army Futures Command — a new four-star command — that will focus on rapidly bringing online modernized equipment and weapons that fit under the top six priorities. And it put a general officer in charge of a cross-functional team for each priority to advance prototypes and technology development. Full article: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2018/10/10/inflection-point-army-wrestles-to-strike-balance-between-current-and-future-capability/

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  November 30, 2023 | International, Aerospace

  Liberals award Boeing and U.S. government sole source deal worth $8 billion for new military surveillance aircraft fleet

  Liberal government has awarded the U.S. aerospace giant Boeing a sole source deal worth $8 billion for a fleet of new surveillance aircraft