U.S. Air Force funds research into orbital combat tools

The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded BlueHalo a five-year contract ceiling of nearly $100 million for the Leveraged Orbital Battlespace Optimization programme. The indefinite-delivery vehicle runs through August 29, 2031, and supports research into tools for operating in a contested orbital environment, with work centred in Huntsville, Alabama, and Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. About $1.7 million was obligated at award, and the first two task orders together can reach approximately $20.2 million. BlueHalo was the only bidder, while the government has not publicly described the specific systems or experiments covered by those tasks.