Installation began in July 2004 for a new antenna for the Air Force Satellite Control Network operation at New Boston AFS, N.H., and operational testing began on Dec. 14. It took more than one year to complete the radome housing the antenna, reports Maj. Dean Bellamy of the 23rd Space Operations Squadron at New Boston. The unit must complete four phases of testing before putting the system online. By the way, the last antenna lasted some 44 years.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.