The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., has awarded Lockheed Martin nearly $51 million to make the transition from legacy Milstar communications satellite ground control and mission planning equipment to new Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite program ground equipment. The first AEHF satellite is slated to launch in spring 2008. SMC expects Lockheed to complete this transition work by May 2010.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.