GAO Urges Improved Commercial Satellite Imagery Buying by DOD

The "slow and cumbersome approach" of the DOD and intelligence community to incorporating commercial satellite imaging capabilities means the U.S. could lose a technological advantage over emerging competitors like China, the GAO said Wednesday. It urged the defense secretary and director of national intelligence to set out clear roles and responsibilities in the various agencies for acquisition of commercial satellite imagery and that they assess different approaches for incorporating and scaling commercial satellite capabilities into operational support contracts.