The Global Positioning System Wing at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., has received 21 prototype GPS receivers from contractor Rockwell Collins. These Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module Modernized receivers are designed to work with the new M-code military signal resident on the newest GPS satellites, including GPS IIF, the first GPS Block IIF spacecraft, that has been in space since late May. The company handed the receivers over after completing formal qualification testing. The GPS Wing will now use them in developmental tests. Concurrent with the delivery, Rockwell conducted live-satellite, signal-track testing to support on-orbit testing of GPS IIF-1. The receivers are designed to offer more security and improved anti-jam capabilities. They can operate with legacy GPS military signals as well as the new signal. (Los Angeles release)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.