Air Force and Northrop Grumman officials are winding up tests to determine whether production treatments would effectively protect the vehicle from electromagnetic interference. Testing has been taking place in the Benefield Anechoic Facility at Edwards AFB, Calif. The nose of the vehicle houses a high power satellite communication transmitter and extremely sensitive signals intelligence receiver processor systems in close proximity, creating the potential for interference. Company officials say the Edwards facility eliminates the need to conduct extensive flight-testing to verify EMI performance.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.