AEHF-3 Lifts Off

The Air Force this morning launched its third Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL.

The Lockheed Martin-built satellite lifted off at 4:10 a.m. -- about an hour into its launch window, due to weather concerns. The satellite separated from the launch vehicle -- a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster -- about 51 minutes after lift-off. It will move through approximately 110 days of orbit-raising operations followed by 60 days of on-orbit testing.

AEHF is a joint satellite system that provides communications to the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. The satellite provides secure, protected, jam-resistant communications and will replace the legacy Milstar system.