Courtney Albon
Courtney Albon is C4ISRNET’s space and emerging technology reporter. She has covered the U.S. military since 2012, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. During that time, she reported on some of the Defense Department’s most significant acquisition, budget and policy challenges, including the F-35 jet, hypersonic capabilities and the creation of the Space Force.
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Anduril announces lighter, smaller Pulsar jammer
The system is about the size of a shoebox and weighs less than 25 pounds, allowing users to quickly deploy it against enemy threats, like drone swarms.
Biden to sign Defense Production Act directives targeting hypersonics
Michael White, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, said the presidential directives, which are “about to be signed,” would enable the Pentagon to invest Defense Production Act Title III funds to bolster the hypersonic engine and guidance and control subsystem supply bases.
US Space Force plan for rapid satellite launches may finally take off
The Space Force may finally be ready embrace the concept for responsive launch. Outside experts and military officials point to recent and planned demonstrations, momentum in the commercial sector and a growing acknowledgement of the threats to military space assets as reasons to think the service may overcome the bureaucratic, budgetary and technological hurdles that have slowed this effort over the last two decades.
US Space Force wants new commercial imagery tool to boost resiliency
The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Space Force are working to transition a lab-developed interface called the Global Unified Environment that would allow combatant commands to buy satellite imagery from commercial providers and allied partners.
US Space Force rapid capabilities office to deliver first project this year
Projects managed by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office are classified, but the director of the organization told reporters initial deliveries are coming in late 2022 and 2023.
Air Force Research Lab begins integration, testing for experimental navigation satellite
Navigation Technology Satellite-3 will showcase advanced capabilities that could improve future GPS satellites or inform a new program to augment today’s constellation.
US Navy, Air Force running ‘capstone test’ of new high-power microwave missile
The High-Powered Joint Electromagnetic Non-Kinetic Strike Weapon (HiJENKS) uses microwave technology to disable an adversary’s electronic systems.
Space Force mulls new acquisition approach for next phase of medium, heavy launches
The Space Force hasn’t finalized its plans for Phase 3 of its National Security Space Launch program, but its new acquisition executive said this week it is considering the possibility of including more launch vehicle classes as part of the contract.
US Army awards $72 million for new phase in next-gen ground system effort
The Army awarded Palantir Technologies and Raytheon Technologies $36 million each to turn their TITAN designs into prototypes, and the service plans to choose a single provider at the end of the 14-month phase.
Pentagon should consider ‘National Hypersonic Initiative’ to speed development, lawmakers say
The House Armed Services Committee wants DoD to explore options for creating a National Hypersonic Initiative that would guide collaboration among the services and agencies involved in development and testing activities and help accelerate production and fielding of hypersonic systems.
