Months after Congress voted to chop $1 billion off the year's budget request, the US Air Force space systems programmes are seeking to make a huge comeback.
The USAF's fiscal 2006 budget proposal seeks to restore last year's funding cut, plus add another $900 million on top of it. Total USAF spending on military space systems would rise from $8.1 billion to $9.9 billion.
Meanwhile, the USAF has acted to address deep concerns in Congress with two key acquisition programmes, including Space Radar (SR) - formerly Space Based Radar - and Transformational Satellite (TSAT).
As directed by Congress, USAF officials have completely rethought the SR acquisition strategy, scaling it back from a development programme to a demonstration activity.
Last year, lawmakers slashed the FY05 budget request for SR to $75 million from $328 million, ordering the air force to focus on technology changes that would "change the cost-benefit equation".
SR's new budget request seeks $226 million in FY06 to start preparations for the launch in FY08 of possibly two quarter-scale-sized spacecraft in a near-earth orbit equipped with synthetic aperture radar and moving target indicator. USAF officials expect the demonstration will provide "enough information to move into final concept and competition," a US defence official says, with a first launch of the baseline SR system in FY15.
Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin remain in competition for the SR contract.
TSAT's funding profile has also been curtailed due to concerns in Congress. The laser-based communications satellite programme is seeking $836 million in FY06, or nearly $300 million less than projected a year ago for FY06.
The programme remains on track to complete a first launch in second quarter FY13, with a four-satellite constellation and one on-orbit spare. The programme plans to downselect to a single contractor in FY06, but a defence official notes the decision could be delayed to FY07.
Source: Flight International
