The satellite gurus over at Air Force Space Command are making progress on modernizing the equipment, ground control systems, and military-user tools needed to upgrade the Global Positioning System. According to a Wednesday release from AFSPC, eight of the latest Block IIR replenishment satellites will be modernized with new military codes and a civil signal, and the first GPS IIR-M is scheduled for launch later this year. The new signals will provide less vulnerability to interference and increased performance in accuracy, availability, integrity and reliability.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.