WGS

WGS-10 communications satellite accepted into operational constellation
U.S. Space Command on Nov. 19 accepted the 10th satellite of the Wideband Global Satcom constellation.

Air Force reviewing Boeing’s bid for WGS-11, projects satellite could be ready in five years
WGS program and Boeing leaders are preparing for an upcoming “system requirements review."

MilSatCom USA 2019
With the US space sector set to be transformed as the new sixth branch of the military ‘Space Command’ is developed, the AEHF and WGS reach maturity and the initial pilots following the Wideband AoA become more advanced, there has never been a…

Satcom conumdrum: Air Force contemplating right mix of commercial, military satellites
A “hybrid” architecture that allows users to tap into commercial and military satellites without knowing the difference has been a much discussed but elusive goal.

Boeing receives $605 million Air Force contract for WGS-11 communications satellite
The WGS-11 satellite is being funded with money that Congress inserted into the fiscal year 2018 budget.

Space Norway in final procurement for two highly elliptical orbit satellites
Stig Nilsson, a colonel in the Norwegian Ministry of Defence’s Department for Defence Policy and Long Term Planning, said the satellite system, known as the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), should be under construction by June, following a downselect among competing manufacturers.



Military buyers struggle to sort through glut of commercial satellite communications services
Air Force satcom buyer Tom Becht: "We see a lot of independent commercial offerings. They are all good. But it would be nice if we could figure out how to do this from an enterprise perceptive.”

Op-ed | Military satcom evolving to meet resiliency requirements
As the military sometimes must operate in contested environments, they will need more resilient communications system to overcome any intentional interference.

DoD taps Hughes, Kratos to prototype joint military-commercial satellite network
A Defense Department pilot program will gauge how multiple satellite communications system can work together to support the military.

Budget addition for WGS resets debate on the future of military space communications
An expansion of the WGS constellation to 12 satellites guarantees that the military will have more of its own satcom capacity and may need less from commercial services, dealing a setback to the industry that has argued for years that it can provide a better value for the money.

Boeing to accelerate production of WGS satellites
Boeing: The production of two new satellites for the Air Force will “move faster” than the typical WGS schedule.

Surprise addition of military satellites to DoD budget irks commercial industry
Peterman: While WGS is an important capability for the military, it is technology that has been surpassed by the private sector.

Omnibus spending bill funds big-ticket military communications satellites that DoD did not request
The 2018 defense appropriation may be the one and only chance for Congress to add $600 million for two new satellites given how large of an increase the Pentagon is getting — $61 billion more than last year’s funding.

Australia’s military including commercial capacity in its satellite communications plans
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is planning to include commercial satellites as a necessary part of its communications architecture in the future, a defense official said May 15.