Space Force communications satellite completes design review
NewsOctober 09, 2020
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. Boeing and the U.S. Space Force completed the first major engineering design review for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11+ communications satellite. This review demonstrates that Boeing is ready to proceed to the final system design phase. Production will begin next year at Boeing’s El Segundo factory, with delivery scheduled for 2024.
According to Boeing, WGS-11+ features a modern digital payload that is designed to perform at twice the operational capability of its predecessors, intended to increase the availability of military-grade communications. It will aim to provide secure communications to connect U.S. and allied forces globally.
The company claims that the current WGS constellation, consisting of 10 satellites, is the backbone of the U.S. military’s global communications system, providing high data-rate connectivity. Users include all U.S. military services, the White House Communications Agency, the U.S. State Department, and international partners.
In addition to U.S. military forces, the WGS constellation is intended to provide service to international partners including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Norway.
