In the defense appropriations measure approved on July 20, Senators took a heavy swipe at some troubled space programs. They chopped $230 million from the Transformational Satellite Communications program “due to concerns over the amount of program growth,” said the panel’s release. It went on to note that, “due to uncertainties” about the Space Radar program, it sliced $100 million from the Air Force request. As for the Space-Based Infrared System, it managed to avoid a cut.
Three B-1B Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing flew over the Indo-Pacific alongside F-16s from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force recently, as part of a joint large force exercise. The mission began and ended in the continental U.S., as the bombers flew 31 hours and landed Jan. 11.