In a major boost to its space business, Boeing has won a contract worth up to $2 billion from the U.S. Space Force to develop 2 next-generation military communication satellites, beating Lockheed Martin in the competition.
The contract includes the design, development, production and testing of 2 satellites under the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Service Life Extension programme. The satellites are expected to be delivered by 2035.
MUOS is the U.S. military’s primary narrowband communication network. It connects troops, ships, aircraft and special operations forces through satellites placed in geostationary orbit. Often compared to a cellphone network in space, the system enables secure communication using small terminals, even beyond the reach of traditional ground networks.
Lockheed Martin had built all 5 satellites currently operating in the MUOS constellation. However, Boeing and Lockheed Martin competed for the replacement programme after the U.S. Space Force took control of the network from the Navy in 2023.
Users connect to 1 of the 5 satellites in geostationary orbit, with signals routed through ground stations and relayed worldwide. Operating in the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) spectrum, the network is valued because its signals can pass through foliage, urban environments and certain weather conditions.
The MUOS programme was launched by the U.S. Navy in the early 2000s to replace the aging UHF Follow-On satellite network developed during the Cold War. The first MUOS satellite was launched in 2012, followed by 3 operational satellites and 1 on-orbit spare.
Although the system was initially expected to remain operational into the 2030s, concerns over aging satellites and growing demand for secure communications led the Space Force to pursue a replacement programme.
Despite rapid advancements in commercial satellite communication services, military officials continue to view secure narrowband communications as a strategic capability that requires dedicated government-owned systems.
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