US Strategic Command has put the final seal of approval on the Space Based Infrared System highly elliptical orbit (HEO-1) payload and ground system, per a Dec. 15 Lockheed Martin release; Air Force space officials approved HEO-1 for operational use last month. • The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project successfully navigated the “most far-reaching and detailed review of operations” the risk-reduction program has had so far, said Northrop Grumman official Dave Vandervoet in a Dec. 16 release; the joint NASA, NOAA, and Air Force NPP is slated for launch in 2010. • Lockheed Martin’s Frank Cappuccio hails the successful autonomous landing demonstration by an F-16 recently as “a basis for further developing manned and unmanned vehicles that can meet the challenges facing the warfighters of tomorrow,” according to a Dec. 9 release, which noted that the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, Calif., provided full flight test resources for the event, including the use of the VISTA/F-16 aircraft. • In another F-16 event, Col. Joseph Guastella, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB, S.C., surpassed 3,000 flying hours during a Dec. 12 sortie, per this Dec. 15 photo release.
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…