The Eastern Range, operated by the 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla., is the beneficiary of a $40 million communications upgrade, courtesy of the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. The new Post Detection Telemetry Subsystem digitizes, manages, and transports critical range safety and range user telemetry data to the Range Operations Control Center and to payload and launch vehicle customers, say SMC officials. The effort required two years of work, but officials say it transformed the once rigid legacy system into one that is customizable that “greatly reduces bandwidth requirements” and operational costs.
Multiple B-21s are undergoing ground tests and being prepared to join the two aircraft now in test flight, and the Northrop Grumman is negotiating with the Air Force about how expanded production for the bomber could be accomplished, president and CEO Kathy Warden said Oct. 21. She also suggested a…