The Air Force launched the second of its wideband global satcom military communication satellites on April 3 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. An Atlas V rocket successfully carried the satellite, which is designated WGS-2, into space. Boeing, the satellite’s manufacturer, announced April 6 that it had acquired the first on-orbit signals from WGS-2, which indicated that “the spacecraft is healthy and ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing.” Following a series of orbital maneuvers and on-orbit testing, WGS-2 will begin operations. WGS-2 joins the WGS-1 on orbit, which was placed in space in October 2007 and entered service last April. Boeing is under contract to build three WGS Block I and three more capable Block II satellites. They will augment and eventually replace Defense Satellite Communication System satellites, providing a giant leap in communications bandwidth throughput over the DSCS constellation. (Includes Cape Canaveral report by 2nd Lt. Karl Wiest)
House, Senate Unveil Competing Proposals for 2026 Budget
July 11, 2025
Lawmakers from the House and Senate laid out competing versions of the annual defense policy bill on July 11, with vastly different potential outcomes for some of the Air Force’s most embattled programs.