SATCOM satellite expands military comms

Military communications capabilities for the US and its allies will be expanded following the launch of Boeing’s ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS).

The satellite will provide the US and six allied nations with an increased capacity to prevent, protect and respond to attacks.

The WGS-9 satellite was funded through an agreement between the United States and Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and will also serve Australia (which funded the WGS-6 satellite).

Each partner country gains access to the capabilities provided by the full WGS system, which include flexible and secure communication transmissions in the X- and Ka-band frequencies.

“This unique international collaboration increases military interoperability and expands affordable high-data-rate communications for US and allied partners around the globe,” said Rico Attanasio, executive director, Boeing Department of Defense/Civil Satellite Programs.

“WGS-9 is among the most capable military communication satellites on orbit today.”

WGS-9 launched on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket. Boeing is on contract for 10 WGS satellites, the last of which is tentatively scheduled for launch in 2018.

The eighth, ninth and 10th WGS satellites include upgraded digital channelisers that nearly double the available bandwidth of earlier satellites in the series.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/sdecoret

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