The Air Force and its industry partners launched AEHF-3, the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency communication satellite, into orbit on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. An Atlas V rocket carried the satellite aloft, lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 at 4:10 a.m., according to the Facebook page of the Space and Missile Systems Center.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.