AEHF satellite
The terminals are designed to connect nuclear bomber bases to the AEHF communications satellites (above) as well as the legacy Milstar satellites.

The U.S. Air Force in late July conferred “initial operational capability” (IOC) status on its constellation of three highly secure communications satellites, a declaration that comes five years after the launch of the first and means the system can now be used more broadly.

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Mike Gruss is the chief content and strategy officer at SpaceNews. From 2013 to 2016 he was a senior reporter at SpaceNews covering military space. Previously, he was editor in chief of Sightline Media Group and worked as a reporter and columnist for...