Boeing has secured a $2.8bn contract from the US House Drive (USSF) to develop and produce satellites underneath the Advanced Strategic Satellite tv for pc Communications (ESS) programme.
These satellites will help safe space-based nuclear command, management, and communications (NC3) for the US President and joint strategic forces globally.
The contract contains provisions for a further two satellites, topic to future choices being exercised.
The USSAF mentioned preliminary supply of the primary 4 satellites will happen underneath a value reimbursement contract. That is a part of a broader $12bn ESS House Section acquisition effort.
Future satellites, aimed toward reaching full operational functionality and offering world protection with improved Arctic functionality, are anticipated to be procured by means of fixed-price contracts. These contracts could also be awarded on a sole-source foundation.
The ESS programme goals to supply safe, modernised, and resilient satellite tv for pc communications (SATCOM) connectivity for Presidential Nationwide Voice Conferencing and the broader NC3 enterprise.
Boeing emphasises that the ESS satellites will supply enhanced “capability, flexibility, reliability, and resilience” in comparison with present SATCOM satellites on orbit.
The corporate has been engaged in technical maturation and threat discount efforts underneath a fast prototyping contract for the USSAF since 2020.
Boeing House, Intelligence and Weapon Techniques normal supervisor and vp Kay Sears mentioned: “The US wants a strategic nationwide safety structure that works with out fail, with the best stage of safety and functionality.
“We designed an revolutionary system to supply assured communication to deal with an evolving risk atmosphere in house.”
The ESS satellites will function in geostationary orbit, roughly 35,700km above the Earth’s floor, guaranteeing steady protection to strategic army personnel throughout the globe.
They’ll characteristic a extremely protected waveform and categorised applied sciences developed in collaboration with the US Division of Protection to stop sign disruption or interception.
The corporate’s ESS answer attracts on know-how beforehand developed for the Wideband World SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites. This know-how has additionally been efficiently deployed within the business O3b mPOWER constellation.
Boeing mentioned the brand new strategic army SATCOM constellation will incorporate this know-how, that includes versatile and resilient alerts designed to safeguard towards disruptions or interceptions.
The corporate is anticipated to ship the primary of the 2 preliminary satellites by 2031, enhancing the US army’s strategic communication capabilities and guaranteeing higher connectivity for nationwide safety operations.
Boeing House Mission Techniques vp Michelle Parker mentioned: “This win validates all of the investments and improvements we’ve made in our satellite tv for pc know-how, making a technically mature and low threat providing for the federal government.
“We scaled our manufacturing capability, invested in our crew, employed cleared expertise, and assembled sizzling manufacturing strains to guarantee that we will hit the bottom operating from day one. We’re dedicated to delivering this important functionality to satisfy the strategic want.”
