Air Force Assuming Responsibility for Future Narrowband Satcom Capabilities

The U.S. Navy will transition responsibility for future narrowband satellite communications capabilities to the U.S. Air Force to facilitate the development of an integrated space architecture, the Air Force reported Wednesday. 

“Completing this transfer now would be a prudent step toward consolidating space capabilities, consistent with Space Policy Directive-4,” USAF Secretary Heather Wilson and Navy Secretary Richard Spencer wrote in a memorandum dated Tuesday. Wilson and Spencer are both 2019 Wash100 Award recipients.

The memo requires the creation of a working group to report on risk areas and mitigation, joint force requirements and required resources to facilitate the transfer, which aims to address concerns raised by the Government Accountability Office and Congress with regard to the alignment of major space initiatives.