The Air Force has declared the latest—and last of its model—Global Positioning Satellite, launched into orbit Aug. 17, to be operational, as of Aug. 27. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite, GPS IIR-21(M), joins 30 other GPS sats currently in the operational constellation. This good news bears out the earlier claim by Space and Missile Center officials that a problem with the previous satellite in the series (GPS IIR-20) did not extend to #21. (SMC release)
House, Senate Unveil Competing Proposals for 2026 Budget
July 11, 2025
Lawmakers from the House and Senate laid out competing versions of the annual defense policy bill on July 11, with vastly different potential outcomes for some of the Air Force’s most embattled programs.