The Air Force and Lockheed Martin say the first modernized Global Positioning System passed its on-orbit check, enabling the 2nd Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo., to declare it operational. GPS IIR-14 (M) provides increased signal power, two new military signals, enhanced military encryption and anti-jamming capability, and a second civil signal.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.