Special Report: The USA’s Transformational Communications Satellite System (TSAT - updated)
Related Stories: Americas - USA, C4ISR, IT - Networks & Bandwidth, IT - Software & Integration, Issues - Political, Official Reports, Satellites & Sensors, Transformation
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As video communications is integrated into robots, soldiers, and UAVs, and network-centric warfare becomes the organizing principle of American warfighting, front-line demands for bandwidth are rising sharply. The Transformation Communications Satellite (TSAT) System is part of a larger effort by the US military to address this need.
The final price tag on the entire TSAT program is expected to reach $14-18 billion through 2016, which includes the satellites, the ground operations system, the satellite operations center and the cost of operations and maintenance. By mid-2007, the U.S. Air Force will either decide to build the TSAT system on its current schedule and launch in 2013-2016, or postpone TSAT, take stopgap measures and add Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellites 4 & 5 to the three slated for launch from 2009-2012.
Lockheed Martin and Boeing have won a total of $514 million each in risk reduction contracts for the TSAT SS satellite system, in hopes of making that Plan B unnecessary. Meanwhile, TSAT’s $2 billion TMOS ground-based network operations contract has just been awarded.
TSAT has seen steady progress on several fronts, but remains behind schedule and has experienced funding cuts. A recent 1-page plea brief on its behalf by the Lexington Institute notes the doubts clouding TSAT’s future – its survival is not assured by any means. The program may find it difficult to survive the current budget environment – and outside events and incremental competitors could spell its end, just as they spelled the end of Motorola’s infamous Iridium service. This updated DID Special Report looks at the TSAT program, its challenges, and the potential future(s) of U.S. military communications…
- Key Background – Why TSAT Is Thought to be Necessary (i.e. continue reading…)
- Key Background – The Big Picture: TSAT and the Transformational Communications Architecture
- Briefing – What Is TSAT?
- Briefing – TMOS: TSAT’s Ground Component
- Briefing – The AEHF Alternative, and Lessons Learned for TSAT
- Analysis – TSAT: Program Issues & Decisions
- Analysis – Conclusion: TSAT’s Competitors – and Its Fate
- Appendix A – TSAT: Timeline and Recent Developments
- Appendix B – Additional Readings & Sources
