Air Force selects space programs for 'quick start' initiative

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force on April 16 announced the selection of its first two programs under the newly established "quick start" initiative, championed by Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. This initiative, authorized by Congress in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, is designed to expedite the development of critical technologies for the Department of Defense. Kendall revealed the selected programs during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Tracking moving targets One of the programs is to develop space and airborne sensors to track moving targets. The Air Force needs to replace large surveillance planes like the…