MILCOM 2017: USAF looks to commercial SATCOM reform
Momentum is building to reform the US military’s acquisition processes and help the US Air Force finally acquire long-term commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) capabilities.
Reform of SATCOM provision is seen as essential as the Pentagon spends approximately $600 million per year on short-term commercial SATCOM leases, usually lasting a year.
The director of military SATCOM at the Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center – part of Air Force Space Command – outlined the way forward at this year’s MILCOM in Baltimore.
‘How can we more efficiently acquire [SATCOM capabilities]?’ asked Robert Tarleton.
Under a programme called Pathfinder Two, the service
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