Boeing announced Tuesday that the Air Force has taken control of the third Wideband Global Satcom military communications satellite from the company after the spacecraft completed several weeks of on-orbit functional tests. Air Force operators at Schriever AFB, Colo., are now conducting additional tests and moving WGS-3 into its operational position over the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite is expected to become operational this spring, according to Boeing. WGS-3 was placed in orbit last December. It joined WGS-1 and WGS-2, which are operating over the Pacific Ocean and the Middle East, respectively. Boeing is under contract to build more WGS satellites.
There is a new entrant in the highly competitive field of collaborative combat aircraft—semi-autonomous drones meant to fly alongside manned combat aircraft. Northrop Grumman unveiled its new Project Talon aircraft to a small group of reporters at the facilities of its subsidiary Scaled Composites.
