The American aerospace giant Boeing has received a major order from the U.S. Space Force to manufacture communications satellites. This is part of an ongoing program that provides secure communications for military personnel around the world.
Next-Generation Military Satellite
The $2 billion contract calls for the construction of two satellites, WGS-12 and WGS-13. The satellites belong to the Wideband Global SATCOM family, the U.S. Department of Defense’s primary broadband communications system.
The previous 11 satellites in this series are already operational in orbit. They provide data transmission, video, and voice communications for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The new satellites will differ from their predecessors with more advanced equipment and enhanced protection against electronic warfare.
Funding and Timeline
Boeing will receive funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Production of both satellites is scheduled to be completed by 2031. Specific launch dates and launch vehicles have not yet been determined.
For Boeing, this contract is important given the financial difficulties facing the company’s aviation division. In addition, Boeing faces increasingly fierce competition in the military communications segment, particularly from Lockheed Martin, which is developing the Protected Tactical SATCOM system with a higher level of protection against interference.
What Is WGS
The Wideband Global SATCOM system became operational in 2007. Since then, it has served as the backbone of U.S. military satellite communications. Each WGS satellite is capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 11 gigabits per second. This is approximately ten times faster than the previous-generation DSCS satellites.
Subscribers to the system include not only the U.S. Armed Forces but also U.S. allies, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and a number of European countries. They gain access to communication channels in exchange for financial participation in the program. Ukraine is not currently a participant in this system, although it uses commercial satellite services such as Starlink for tactical communications.
According to SpaceNews
