Brenda Marie Rivers
A Lockheed Martin-built satellite communications platform has completed multiservice operational test and evaluation and is slated to become fully available across tactical warfare systems.
The U.S. Navy Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force, along with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, conducted the MOT&E that certifies the Mobile User Objective System as operationally suitable for warfighting environments, Lockheed said Monday.
Lockheed, the MUOS prime contractor, partnered with General Dynamics' mission systems business on the ground infrastructure.
The network includes four GDMS-built ground stations located around the world as well as five geosynchronous satellites designed to support high-speed internet functions and beyond-line-of-sight communications.
Manny Mora, vice president and general manager for GDMS’ space and intelligence systems unit, said the MUOS network expands the capacity of legacy satellite communications systems for voice and data transmission.
Kay Sears, VP and GM of Lockheed’s military space portfolio and former Wash100 winner, noted that MUOS will provide near-global coverage through satellites that operate as cell towers 22K miles above the planet.
Initial testing and training efforts for the MUOS network began in 2016 ahead of U.S. Strategic Command’s authorization of the network for non-combat operations in 2018.
