The House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2008 defense spending bill July 25 containing cuts for two Air Force space programs - the Alternative Infrared Satellite System (AIRSS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) III.

AIRSS will have its funding reduced to $75 million, a $155 million reduction from the original request. Noting how important space systems are to the modern warfighter, the HAC effectively scolded the Air Force for continuing to request new or alternative programs despite the fact that current space programs had not yet been vetted. The example cited was the service's request for AIRSS funding when the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) has not even launched yet.

Additionally, the HAC recommended GPS III's budget be reduced by $80 million to $507 million. The Air Force recently released its request for proposals (RFP) for the system, with the selection of a single contractor to be made by the end of this year.

Appropriators specifically requested that a commitment be made "to realistic budgets and schedules" in the future, mentioning the high cost of space acquisition ballooning under continued changes in procurement and development schedules. Programs that look perfect on paper are subject to radical changes once the satellite enters what HAC calls its "riskiest periods...during integration, testing, launch, and on-orbit initialization."

Space Situational Awareness Systems received a $9 million plus-up to $197 million, while Operationally Responsive Space received a $20 million boost, bringing it to $107 million. Additionally, Space Control Technology gains $25 million in funding under the bill, raising its budget to $62 million. The addition of funds to Operationally Responsive Space was due in part to China's recent successful launch of its anti-satellite weapon in January, appropriators said. Six million of the $20 million increase will be devoted to classified programs.

The committee provided $186 million to the Air Force for the Space Radar program - the same as its fiscal 2007 spending level - despite the fact that the service requested no FY '08 funding for the program in anticipation of transferring it to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The HAC expressed concerns about Space Radar's expense and technical challenges, saying that some of its capabilities are already being covered by other airborne platforms. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the total program lifecycle cost at $35 billion to $50 billion.

Faced with what it sees as a lackluster response by the Air Force regarding Ballistic Missile Range Safety Technology (BMRST), the HAC urged the DOD's Executive Agent for Space to continue to "pursue [BMRST] and any other [opportunity] that will provide the Nation with minimal and adaptable launch infrastructure requirements, mobile range options, and launch-on-demand capabilities that fully leverage GPS metric tracking and integrated communications relays." Twenty million dollars will be added to the request for $15 million in PE 605860F, Rocket Systems Launch Program, although funding is not specifically included for the BMRST program.