Boeing will begin production of the seventh Wideband Global Satcom spacecraft, WGS-7, under a $182 million contract that the Air Force announced Thursday. These funds will cover “the necessary items” to begin the satellite’s manufacture, according to USAF’s contract announcement, which appeared in the Pentagon’s major contracts list for Aug. 19. WGS-7 is expected to be in the Block II configuration as WGS-4, -5, and -6. WGS satellites provide military communications to US and allied forces worldwide. The first three WGS spacecraft are Block I satellites already on orbit. The Air Force just recently disclosed that WGS-3 has commenced operational service. WGS-4, -5, and -6 are planned for launch in 2012 and 2013.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…