Government/Military

[Via Satellite 01-14-2014] Lockheed Martin has begun the first system test of the fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for the U.S. Navy. Engineers and technicians recently mated its system module and core to the multi-beam assembly (MBA), which hosts 16 ultra-high frequency (UHF) antennas for distributed, global communications coverage. MUOS is designed to...

[Via Satellite 01-22-2014] ATK has deployed its Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) MegaFlex solar array under a NASA contract to further the development of a high-power system for future manned and robotic exploration missions. The MegaFlex solar array can generate 40kW of power when fully populated with solar cells, and has been considered for near-term mission...

[Via Satellite 01-21-2104] Gilat Satellite Networks will supply satellite equipment and services to the Israeli government through a tender won by Gilat Satcom. Over the next three years, Gilat Satcom will supply fixed and satellite-on-the-move (SOTM) communications services based only on Gilat equipment including VSATs and low-profile and tracking satellite antennas. These additions will provide high-availability communications for...

[Via Satellite 01-17-2014] Ed Spitler, president of Astrium Services Government (now part of the Airbus group) had one main point to get across at the Washington Space Business Roundtable: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) is a dangerously flawed procurement strategy for the United States military. LPTA has been the U.S. government’s method of evaluating contracts...

[Via Satellite 01-16-2014] GATR Technologies’ recent $440 million contract comes as a sizeable purchase for the government to make while still dealing with the effect of sequestration. While budget cuts may have dampened sales for many, GATR was able to spin diminished spending into opportunity. “What we found while dialoging with some of our Department...

[Via Satellite 01-15-2014] Encompass Government Solutions has announced that O’Brien McKinley has joined the company as vice president of business development. McKinley will focus on enhancing the company’s relationships within the government sector. “Encompass has grown steadily over the past several years, and I look forward to contributing to the continued expansion of the Government...

[Via Satellite – 01-15-2014] Boeing’s Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system has helped the U.S. Air Force reduce satellite loss by 66 percent by detecting potential threats more quickly and allowing operators to take early action if necessary. SBSS provides timely detection, collection, identification and tracking of space objects from deep space to low-Earth orbit due...

[Via Satellite 01-14-2014] As part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Small Cutter Connectivity (SCC) program, KVH Industries has surpassed the 100-vessel mark in its 10-year contract to supply the next-generation satellite communications solution for the USCG’s fleet of small cutters (a USCG designation given for any vessel exceeding 65 feet in length). To date, KVH’s...

[Via Satellite 01-14-2014] As part of its ninth Block IV full-rate fiscal year 2012 production contract, Raytheon has transported the 3,000th Tomahawk Block IV missile to the U.S. Navy. The Navy continues to purchase Tomahawk missiles via the FY2013 budget, and negotiations are ongoing for next year’s production contract. Tomahawk Block IV missiles include a...

[Via Satellite 01-13-2014] Harris Corporation has received $21 million in orders from a NATO country for its Falcon multiband tactical radios. The orders were received during the second quarter of fiscal 2014. The unspecified nation is acquiring Falcon 3 AN/PRC-117G manpack and AN/PRC-152A handheld radios, which will provide special forces and army soldiers with wideband...