The Air Force has awarded Boeing a $148 million contract to start work on the fourth Wideband Gapfiller Satellite, known as WGS F4. The company already is working on the first three WGS satellites. USAF expects the system to bridge the gap between present-day communications satellites and the next-generation communication sats. The first WGS launch now is slated for June 2007.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
