Future narrowband satellite capability to transfer to Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published May 29, 2019

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Air Force and Navy took the important step to enable the development of an integrated space enterprise architecture.

In a memorandum dated May 28, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer announced the transfer of responsibility for future narrowband satellite communications.

"To prepare for the future alignment of space programs, it is our intent to transfer responsibility for future narrowband capability, beyond the Mobile User Objective System, from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Air Force," Wilson and Spencer said in the memo. "Completing this transfer now would be a prudent step toward consolidating space capabilities, consistent with Space Policy Directive-4."

The president's Space Policy Directive-4 directed the Department of Defense to submit a legislative proposal for the establishment of a Space Force as a new military service within the Department of the Air Force and this plan is to meet the President's intent, the memo stated.

The transfer also address concerns raised by Congress and the Government Accountability Office about the alignment of major space programs. In the near future, all major defense satellite programs will be located within the Air Force budget and satellite communications will be developed as an integrated architecture.

The memo calls for the establishment of a working group that will report on the joint force requirements, required resources and identification of risk areas and mitigation for a successful transfer of responsibility.