Lockheed Martin plans to launch the U.S. Navy’s third Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite in January.
Lockheed Martin set to launch U.S. Navy satellite
Lockheed Martin plans to launch the U.S. Navy’s third Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite in January.
MUOS will improve secure mobile satellite communications for battle conditions.
“MUOS is a game changer in communications for our warfighters and will allow them to have high-fidelity voice conversations, networked team calls and data exchange, including video, with anyone connected to a secure terminal around the world,” said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of narrowband communications at Lockheed Martin. “The launch of MUOS-3 will increase our network coverage to about three-quarters of the globe.”
The MUOS system carries two payloads for UHF narrowband communications, advanced wideband code access and a new waveform to provide priority-based capacity.
MUOS is replacing the legacy Ultra High Frequency Follow-On system and will provide 16 times the capacity of the legacy communications satellite system.
MUOS operates like a smart phone network and features on-demand, beyond line-of-sight capability to transmit and receive voice and mission data on a high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.
The first two MUOS satellites were launched in 2012 and 2013. Muos-4 is scheduled for a late-2015 launch.
Lockheed Martin serves as the MUOS prime contractor and system integrator for the U.S. Navy.
The launch is scheduled for the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
