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The US Space Force has awarded Boeing a US$439.6 million (AU$669.9 million) contract to build the 12th Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) communications satellite for Space Systems Command.
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The Protected Wideband Satellite is designed to provide vital high-capacity data rate and secure tactical communications in contested jamming environments to the US military and its allies.
As part of the contract, Boeing’s new Protected Tactical Satcom Prototype payload will also be integrated on WGS-12, providing a second Protected Wideband Satellite to the US military, and expanding anti-jam tactical communications capacity for US warfighters and allies to operate in multiple contested theaters.
Michelle Parker, vice-president of Space Mission Systems, welcomed the announcement, saying, “We are proud to be a mission partner and are ready to continue providing protected tactical communications to the warfighter.”
The WGS’ responsive, steerable, high-capacity beams provide assured connectivity via the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) ground system and enhanced anti-jam communications by combining the US military’s jam-resistant Protected Tactical Waveform with antenna nulling in the Ka band.
“Like WGS-11, the 12th WGS satellite will provide critical capabilities to our military with over 1,500 individually steerable, shapeable beams in the Ka band, ensuring tactical forces have resilient communications,” Parker added.
Boeing’s WGS-12 communications satellite will leverage the company’s additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, agile development, and other advanced techniques throughout its construction, building on the experience Boeing is developing through the construction of the WGS-11 satellite currently being built in El Segundo, California.
The first WGS satellite was launched in 2007, with capability steadily improved such that WGS-10 can deliver download speeds of up to 11 gigabits per second.
This a big deal for Australia as the WGS constellation is the key component of Australian Defence Force satellite communications capability. Australia is an international partner in the WGS program through funding of satellite WGS-6, which gives us proportional access to the network.
Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defence products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries, including Australia.
