T
he Air Force-industry team behind the Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Mission Control Segment (ASMCS) system recently demonstrated to visitors in Colorado Springs, Colo., just how the system will function with both AEHF and Milstar communications satellites. The AEHF sats, the first of which is slated to launch in 2008, ultimately are destined to replace Milstar. Operators say the ASMCS has significant advances over the 20-year-old legacy systems they use today. They got to experience the new software via a test training and simulations system and got to provide input to help improve the new system.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.