Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) has released details and commented on a $1.09 billion contract for Wideband Global SATCOM satellite work, the U.S. Defense Department announced on Sept. 1.
The company will provide production, launch site activities and initial orbital operations for the program’s seventh and eighth satellites. Boeing will also work on upgrades to boost capacity and operational flexibility.
WGS supports tactical communications to and between ground forces and can relay data and imagery from airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.
“Satellites seven and eight will address the growing demand for high-data-rate services worldwide, ” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.
Boeing said WGS is the U.S. Defense Department‘s highest-capacity communications satellite system. It has important communications payload features for the military, such as connecting different frequency band terminals and repositioning coverage beams based on evolving mission needs.
The company has three satellites in orbit, which are providing more than 30 times the communications capacity of the prior Defense Satellite Communications System constellation, Boeing announced.
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