Intel gathering

US to Jettison Spy Planes, Satellites Due to Russian, Chinese Missiles – Reports

The US Air Force is about to abandon expensive surveillance aircrafts and satellites, opting for an information network out of concerns over Russia’s and China’s increased space capabilities.

The United States has decided to ditch a $7 billion surveillance aircraft program in favor of an information network that connects sensors from manned and unmanned aircraft, satellites, ships at sea and ground troops.

“In a contested environment, an integrated air, space, ground network is more resilient than a single point,” said Heather Wilson, Air Force Secretary, as cited by SpaceNews.

The Pentagon assumed that large and expensive satellites were more vulnerable to electronic and kinetic attacks, while smaller aircrafts would be more resilient. The Air Force believes that this concept will allow the United States to prevail in future conflicts, with the budget proposal shifting money from hardware to software.