Government/Military

Black Swift Technologies announced the expansion of a pathfinder mission with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to develop enhanced multi-angular remote sensing techniques using small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). According to Black Swift Technologies, these autonomous platforms can more effectively and efficiently monitor crop health and growth monitoring through the use of a narrow spectral...

With the President’s recent signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, the United States government is taking a significant step in recognizing the criticality of space resilience and the importance of consistent, consolidated and strategic leadership in space. The potential impact cannot be overstated. The NDAA serves as a...

Comtech Telecommunications announced that during its third quarter of fiscal 2018, its Orlando, Florida-based subsidiary, Comtech Systems, received an order totaling approximately $2 million to provide 50 Mb/s tactical troposcatter equipment to a supplier for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces. Comtech will deliver the Modular Transportable Transmission System (MTTS) troposcatter terminals to the UAE...

The U.S. government has selected GetSat’s MicroSat and MilliSat Land and Maritime (L/M) versions to provide maritime and ground-based secure Communications-On-the-Move (COTM) applications. The deal is worth an undisclosed multi-million dollar amount, according to the company. GetSat’s micronized communications terminals are based on the company’s fully interlaced InterFlat panel technology for transmitting and receiving signals...

Raytheon’s next-generation GPS Operational Control System (GPS OCX), is in its final software development phase. According to the company, this phase focuses on increasing automation and building controls for both L1C, a civilian GPS signal aimed at increasing international access, and M-code, a military GPS signal with better anti-jam capability. Once complete, the team will...

An undisclosed nation in Asia has selected Harris Corporation as the prime systems integrator to modernize and upgrade its military communications network, extending the company’s role as the country’s incumbent radio provider. Harris will replace existing disparate systems and integrate both military and commercial products and software into a turnkey solution. This integrated network will...

Satellite companies building next-generation networks must be prepared to meet obligations for lawful intercept, says Subsentio Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Bock. If network operators are unable to comply with a legal request for specific data from a law enforcement agency, there could be a hefty price to pay, he warned in an interview with...

GovSat 1 has entered operational service to provide secure communications to governmental and institutional users. The spacecraft is GovSat’s first, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the government of Luxembourg and SES. SpaceX launched the satellite into space in January on a flight-proven Falcon 9; it has since undergone extensive testing, SES stated. GovSat operates the...

NASA has given Orbital ATK approval to begin building its Landsat 9 spacecraft after completing a comprehensive design review of the mission. Landsat 9, a land surface mapping satellite, will collect space-based images and data that serve as resources for researchers in areas that include agriculture, land use mapping, and disaster relief. Orbital ATK is...

The U.S. Air Force has awarded two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch service contracts to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA).  SpaceX received a $290.6 million firm-fixed-price contract to orbit three Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellites (1 base and 2 options). ULA received a $354.8 million firm-fixed-price contract, to launch Air Force Space Command...