US airmen and other warfighters stand to benefit from a scheduled launch of the latest Defense Meteorological Satellite Program spacecraft—the F-17 Block 5D-3—aboard a Boeing Delta IV Medium booster from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., Nov. 4. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite features advanced sensors that collect meteorological data in all weather conditions, a more powerful computer with greater memory, and ring laser gyros that supply more flexible precision pointing than earlier mechanical gyros, states a company news release.
While the Space Force is still making long-term plans to establish high-fidelity live and virtual test and training ranges in the coming years, officials say they're also working with operators to identify near-term gaps and quickly field capabilities to address them.
