Boeing officials say the company has completed “end-to-end testing” for the Wideband Global SATCOM payload command and control system, which means the WGS is set for launch this summer. A Boeing release stated that the C2 system enabled communication from WGS ground station equipment at Paso Robles, Calif., and a WGS satellite located at Boeing’s El Segundo plant, routing the commands sent by teams at Schriever AFB, Colo., and Kirtland AFB, N.M.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

