Next-Stage C4ISR Bandwidth: The AEHF Satellite Program
Jan 05, 2012 14:23 EST
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US nuclear weapon communications to be modified. (Dec 30/11)
The USA’s new Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellites will support twice as many tactical networks as the current Milstar II satellites, while providing 10-12 times the bandwidth capacity and 6 times the data rate transfer speed. With the cancellation of the higher-capacity TSAT program, AEHF will form the secure, hardened backbone of the Pentagon’s future Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) architecture, with a mission set that includes nuclear command and control. Its companion Family of Advanced Beyond-line-of-sight Terminals (FAB-T) program will give the US military more modern, higher-bandwidth receiving capabilities, and add more flexibility on the front lines. The program has international components, and partners currently include Britain, Canada, and the Netherlands.
This article offers a look at the AEHF system’s rationale and capabilities, while offering insight into some of the program’s problems, and an updated timeline covering over $5 billion worth of contracts since the program’s inception…
- The AEHF Program
- The AEHF Satellites
- The AEHF Satellites: Contracts & Key Events, full history
- FAB-T Terminals and Ground Control
- FAB-T & Ground Control: Contracts and Key Events, full history [updated]
- Additional Readings
Subscribe here to get the full story covering the AEHF high-bandwidth satellites, reference materials, pictures, timelines and our daily updates to this and many other programs.
- Tracking of billions of dollars in awards as part of the AEHF's multi-billion dollar budget
- Key contract developments (including incomplete contracts), events, and recent annual budgets organized by year
- Developments including the influence of a key NSA failure on the program.
- Discussion of AEHF's intertwined relationship with the TSAT Transformation SATCOM project.
- Articles, additional sources and links to more DII Spotlight, Focus and Daily Reports, as well as official government documents.
- Multiple graphics showing aspects of the system
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