The Defense Department announced Tuesday that it would eliminate the selective availability feature on new Global Positioning System satellites. That decision coincides with the view expressed earlier this year by the National Space-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board. The Pentagon stopped using the SA feature, which permitted satellite operators to intentionally degrade the GPS signal, in May 2000, but the advisory group believes that the continued inclusion of the SA feature generated international mistrust at a time when alternatives to GPS are emerging.
The Air Force is planning to spend $2.19 billion over the next five years to acquire new C-37 jets for transporting military and civilian leaders. That’s on top of another $1.17 billion in projected funding for the VC-25B “Air Force One” replacement.