The Air Force has laid out requirements for its $1.07 billion Wideband Gapfiller Satellite program, stipulating that the Boeing contract has options for a second block of satellites, reports Dow Jones Newswires. Each block will have three satellites and the second block will provide for more bandwidth access to spy planes and other aircraft. Plans call for the first WBG satellite to launch in 2007.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.