Georgia lawmakers Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) and Rep. Jim Marshall (D) came together to ensure the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia got the funding it needs to begin building a new software support facility. Chambliss noted in a joint statement that work on the $21 million project should begin “as soon as possible.” Marshall said he and Chambliss had “fought long and hard” to secure the construction money. The new facility will enable the center to expand its software support workload, which currently supports special operations, E-8, and F-15 aircraft. Amanda Creel reports that the center expects to add work for C-17 and F-22A aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Center officials expect to start the contract bid process this fall.
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic announced a new partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s space warfare directorate to collect and share space weather data from the company’s suborbital spacecraft, due for its first commercial flight next year.