Air Force officials may present an alternate strategy to the defense acquisition board by September for acquiring next-generation communications terminals for the nuclear deterrence mission. Global Security Newswire reports that USAF is preparing the alternative plan as a hedge since the current contractor has been delayed in delivering these Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals. They are being built to reside in B-2 and B-52 bombers and air and ground command posts, allowing them to send and receive jam-proof information through Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites. During an industry day in July, Air Force officials expressed the desire to install the terminals in mid-decade, earlier than what may be possible under the current acquisition program, according to GSN. The Air Force placed the first AEHF satellite in space on Aug. 14.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flew from Europe across the Middle East to the Persian Gulf on July 25 in a 32-hour flight, as conflicts continued to roil the area with U.S. troops coming under attack in Iraq and Syria on July 25 and July 26, U.S. officials told…