SES wins Greenland tracking station contract

Satellite company SES Government Solutions (SES GS) has been awarded the Thule Tracking Station Digital Signal 3 (DS3) Service Contract to continue to provide the US Government with critical communications capabilities.

The service supports a global network that enables national-level missile warning, space surveillance, space control and satellite command and control.

The solution connects key sensors to operations centres for missile defence missions and serves Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

SES GS has been the sole provider of commercial satellite communications to Thule Air Base for over 30 years.

The contract provides the US Air Force Space Command with dedicated communications between Thule Air Base in Greenland and Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The solution includes commercial satellite bandwidth, contractor-provided hub equipment, teleport service and antennas.

Thule’s arctic environment, unpredictable weather patterns and near-horizon location provide unique technical and logistical challenges.