Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY 02-15-11] U-blox and its test and measurement equipment supplier Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) concluded a simulation of the European Galileo satellite positioning system, U-blox announced Feb. 14.     U-blox said the test, carried out with the R&S’ SMBV100A vector signal generator and GNSS simulation options, verified proof-of-concept and the compatibility of U-blox receiver...

[Satellite TODAY 02-15-11] The U.S. Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate awarded a $900,000 contract to Boeing to explore ways to modify existing commercial satellite capabilities to meet military satellite needs, Boeing announced Feb. 14.     Boeing will conduct research on new military communications-on-the-move mission requirements as well as connectivity solutions for low-altitude airborne intelligence, surveillance...

[Satellite News 02-15-11] NASA, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Defense revealed their 2012 fiscal year budget proposals to Congress, giving insight into the spending plans of one the satellite industry’s most profitable and growing sectors. NASA NASA requested $18.7 billion for its 2012 fiscal year 2012, seeking...

[Satellite News 02-14-11] Rene Oosterlinck was the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first full-time director of the Galileo program, serving from early 2008 through the end of 2010. Oosterlinck was tasked not only to manage the development of the complex program but also control costs, and the program now is projected to cost more than 5.3...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 02-14-11] The Indian Air Force (IAF) unveiled plans to launch seven satellites over the next four to six years to provide own military and civil satellite navigation and imaging service     The constellation, dubbed the Indian Navigation System (INS), aims to enhance surveillance capabilities and improve the accuracy of India’s weapon systems....

[Satellite TODAY 02-14-11] Comtech Xicom Technology unveiled its X-BUC block up-converter, which is targeted to commercial and military customers using X-band capacity on Xtar and Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellites, the company announced Feb. 11.     Comtech’s X-BUC aims to offer higher power in a compact package so system integrators can offer much higher data-rate...

[Satellite TODAY 02-14-11] Russia will launch a new Glonass-K navigation satellite on a Soyuz rocket Feb. 24 from the Plesetsk space center, Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin announced.     Glonass-K will provide four L1 and L2 beams for military and government use and one L3 band for civilian applications. The satellite will have...

[Satellite News 02-10-11] In February 2010, the U.S. Air Force entrusted Raytheon with the evolution of its GPS infrastructure by awarding the company with an $886 million to improve the accuracy of information from its satellites.     Under the direction of Raytheon GPS OCX Program Manager Bob Canty, the company is developing the first two...

[Satellite TODAY 02-10-11] Lockheed Martin Space Systems has won a $339.6 million contract from the U.S. Navy to build the fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) ultra-high frequency communications satellite, the company announced.     The new MUOS satellite will feature payloads designed by both Boeing and Lockheed Martin that aim to significantly increase throughput. Lockheed...

[Satellite TODAY 02-09-11] Comtech Xicom Technology received a $1 million order from the U.S. Navy for high-power amplifiers as an expansion to an existing contract for broad spectrum of new units and repairs for Navy satellite communications systems, Comtech announced Feb. 8.     The amplifiers will be utilized as part of the Navy’s satellite communications...