Dr Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and US Space Force Service Acquisition Executive, said, “Our space industrial base is critical to our military and economy. The Space Force Acquisition Council held an emergency session to synchronise our response to fragile supply chains, at-risk workforces, and receding commercial markets and we’ll continue to work with the Department of Defense and Congress to get additional help.”
Dr Roper said the council directed a comprehensive survey go out to space industrial base sectors, including members and non-members of the Space Enterprise Consortium, several federally funded research and development centres (FFRDCs), and pertinent think tanks.
The survey focuses on three distinct priorities:
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1. Emerging supply chain, cleared workforce, and markets under immediate distress;
2. Real bills caused by COVID-19 with the goal of minimising existing program schedule risks; and
3. Stimulus: Small space vehicles, micro-electronics and other key areas for long-term sustainment.
Dr Christopher Scolese, National Reconnaissance Office director, added, “Assured access to space coupled with a strong space industrial base are fundamental to our national security. The National Reconnaissance Office is committed to working with the Space Acquisition Council and with the US Space Force to ensure the stability of the space sector.”
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While Air Force officials recognise major suppliers and “prime” companies have been affected by COVID-19, an immediate concern is with tier three and tier four suppliers and vendors, as well as small companies, especially in the small launch, commercial satellite communications, and micro-electronic sectors.
General Jay Raymond, US Space Force Chief of Space Operations, added, “The COVID crisis must not undermine critical space industries. Given the threat to space capabilities posed by potential adversaries, we need to ensure the US space industrial base remains strong — the best in the world at developing national security space systems.”
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