The 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., received satellite control authority of the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite during a recent transfer ceremony, said base officials. The MILSATCOM Program Office, a division of the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles, has had satellite control authority over AEHF-3 since its launch in September, states a March 27 release. The satellite reached geosynchronous orbit in January. “The operational position of the satellite, and hence its coverage area, is up to US Strategic Command. We are prepared to support users and the combatant commands’ needs wherever the satellite is finally positioned,” said Lt. Col. Alistair Funge, 4th SOPS operations officer, in the release. The transfer ceremony took place March 21. The fourth AEHF vehicle is tentatively slated to launch into space in 2015, states the release.
Air Force bases inside the U.S. are heavily guarded, but they could fall victim to the same type of spectacular drone attack that struck bomber bases deep inside Russia last year, retired Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, former head of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD, said July 30.