Boeing updates WGS11+ satellite for US military

Boeing has begun building the latest version of its Wideband Global SATCOM satellite system, WGS-11+.

Along with the U.S. Space Force, Boeing completed the system’s critical design review in late 2021, officially launching the program’s production phase. Leveraging additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, agile development and other techniques, Boeing has created cost and schedule benefits, while boosting system performance.

WGS-11+ showcases an evolution in phased array technology. Based on Boeing’s advances on its commercial 702X software-defined satellite payload, it is capable of generating hundreds of electronically steered beams simultaneously, providing users with more than twice the mission capability.

Like 702X, each individual beam is shapeable and can be uniquely tailored to any operation, enabling mission flexibility and responsiveness. Narrower beam widths with dual polarisation unique to WGS-11+ help protect against jamming and interference while allowing greater frequency reuse.

When it joins the constellation of 10 WGS satellites, WGS-11+ will increase throughput capacity of essential communication services for the U.S. Government and its allies. It is scheduled for delivery in 2024.