The Air Force recently exercised a $296 million contract option with Boeing for production of WGS-8, the eighth Wideband Global Satellite Communications spacecraft, announced service space officials Wednesday. This option builds upon the $58 million that Boeing received in August for the long-lead-time parts and activities associated with fabrication of WGS-8, bringing the cost of this satellite to $354 million, they said. WGS-8 acquisition is part of the WGS Block II follow-on contract that encompasses WGS-7, -8, and -9. Already the Air Force operates three WGS Block 1 satellites in geosynchronous orbits. They support simultaneous X-band and Ka-band communications for US military personnel across the globe. WGS-4, the first, more capable Block II spacecraft, is scheduled for launch into space next month from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. WGS-5, -6, and -7 are currently in various stages of production.
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
