Air Force leaders recently convened to develop strategies in sustaining and modernizing capabilities supporting the U.S. Department of Defense’s new strategic guidance that was released in January. The plans that came out of these meetings, however, may sound familiar to the commercial satellite sector.

   “Our acquisition strategy will see the Air Force continue with its Efficient Space Procurement program, which includes block buys of satellites, fixed price contracts, continued investment in research and development and a modified funding profile through advanced appropriations over multiple years,” said Conaton.

   Conaton said the government had several reasons to assign priorities to the U.S. space program, despite reducing overall funding levels for its fiscal 2013 program budget. “A lot of our programs have moved out of the developmental phase and are in production at this point. Obviously, that has a different funding profile,” said Conaton. “Our partners in Congress were incredibly generous in helping to robust the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) communications program, which meant that we didn’t have to fund additional satellites in that program this year.

   Conaton added that Congress’ decision to terminate the military’s Defense Weather Satellite System program gave the Air Force breathing room in making its own budget decisions on what areas could be scaled back or cut from the space program.

   The Air Force also is making an effort to deal with increasingly expensive launch services for its satellites. “The Air Force, along with our partners in the National Reconnaissance Office and in NASA, are committed to finding a way to get the best deal for the taxpayer, recognizing that launch continues to be at the core of what we do in the space business,” she said.