The US Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force have signed an agreement to partner on the Wideband Global SATCOM system. SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski reports that the arrangement means USAF can expand the WGS constellation to six satellites, instead of the five that had been planned. Air Force Space Command launched the first WGS last month and expects to reach initial operational capability in January. Launch of a sixth satellite would come in 2013.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.