APOGEE STAFF
The U.S. Space Force is hoping to add another satellite to its Wideband Global Satcom constellation, which provides communications to the U.S. military and allies. If approved, the new satellite would be the 12th to join the network.
The Space Force is awaiting approval of the U.S. Department of Defense budget before awarding a contract to develop the satellite, which would called be WGS-12. Congress added U.S. $442 million to the budget to build the new wideband geostationary spacecraft, SpaceNews said.
Boeing, the prime contractor of the WGS satellites since 2001, is amidst construction of WGS-11+ at its factory in El Segundo, California. The U.S. Space Force awarded Boeing $605 million in October 2019 to build WGS-11+. The satellite, which will include more advanced anti-jamming capabilities than previous WGS versions, will strengthen high-speed communications for the United States and its partners. It’s scheduled for delivery in 2024.
Based on software advances, WGS-11+ will be capable of generating “hundreds of electronically steered beams simultaneously, providing users with more than twice the mission capability compared to satellites within the existing WGS fleet,” Boeing said.