The half of the 55th Electronic Combat Group flying EC-130H Compass Call aircraft for operations in Afghanistan has just passed 5,000 combat hours. The airmen of the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, deployed from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., have flown more than 940 sorties supporting coalition ground troops operating in Afghanistan. (Their sister unit, the 43rd EECS, covers Iraq.) The 41st EECS maintainers have ensured a more than 95 percent mission capable rate, changing propellers, engines, and making major repairs to keep the EC-130Hs in the air.
In the Space Force’s push to increase its consumption of commercial satellite capabilities, satellite communications stands out as the template. The question now is how broadly the Space Force will look to leverage additional SATCOM providers.