Industry Officials Call for Dedicated U.S. Air Force Funding for Hosted Payloads

摘要

The U.S. Air Force has warmed to the idea that placing military payloads aboard commercial satellites is a low-cost way to field new capabilities, but the service has yet to commit the funding that will bring out the best concepts from aerospace companies, a group of industry officials said Oct. 9. Speaking at the Hosted Payload Summit here organized by Access Intelligence, these officials said the Air Force has taken concrete steps toward leveraging hosted payload opportunities. But they also said the service - and more importantly Congress - have yet to fully integrate hosted payloads into future planning. Nicole Robinson, vice president of communications and government affairs for SES Government Solutions of McLean, Va., said industry leaders needed to remind Congress that hosted payloads are not one-off, one-time programs but instead should be viewed as a key component of programs that will require consistent long-term funding.