In a July 21 statement, Blakey blasted Congress’ June budget proposal that contained nearly $600 million in cuts to non-classified programs, including: satellite communications; access to space; positioning, navigation and timing; environmental monitoring; space situational awareness; and ORS support to the warfighter. Two weeks after the House bill was introduced, the U.S. military’s Operationally Responsive Space (ORS-1) satellite was launched into orbit to improve battle space awareness and meet U.S. Central Command mission needs.

            “To help meet the warfighter’s growing needs, the U.S. government and industry have been working around the clock to upgrade and strengthen these vital technologies,” said Blakey. “Advanced military communications satellites control the growing number of unmanned aerial vehicles used in overseas operations. Military communications satellites also allow secure links to soldiers on the ground and to military commanders. Modernization efforts will ensure this capability is able to meet the changing technology needs of the 21st century.”

            The Pentagon’s fiscal year 2012 request was already a 3 percent increase from the prior year’s budget. Most analysts saw the the increase as modest, considering the significant cuts to major space development programs that had happened during the past two years.

            “The successes of today’s military using space technology might seem to show that further investment isn’t as important. However, that would be a mistake,” said Blakey. “The successes of today are based on investments in the past. Because space technology is highly complex, one cannot simply stop or delay system development without seriously impacting the cost, schedule or ability to field future systems.”