Government/Military

[Satellite Today 03-26-09] CPI’s satcom division has introduced its SuperLinear X-band amplifier product line as a companion to its Ku-band 2G outdoor units, CPI announced March 23.     The SuperLinear line features a 500-watt peak power X-band high power amplifier (HPA), which is weatherized for rugged military satellite communications applications.     CPI claims that its...

[Satellite Today 03-26-09] Norsat launched a line of X-band low noise amplifiers (LNA), block up converters (BUC) and VSAT terminals, Norsat announced March 25.     Norsat’s new X-Band products include the 5010XRT 10W non-inverted BUC, the X1000 LNA and the X-Band Rover VSAT system.     “With the launch of the next generation of military satellites,...

[Satellite Today 03-25-09] Intelsat General Corp. has been awarded a multi-year contract from Artel Inc. to supply bandwidth to the U.S. military to support UAV surveillance operations, Intelsat announced March 24.     The contract, awarded under Artel’s Defense Information Systems Network Satellite Transmission Services-Global contract, calls for up to 432 megahertz of bandwidth using 12...

[Satellite Today 03-25-09] United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the U.S. Air Force’s GPS 2R-M satellite March 24 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.     GPS 2R-M, developed by the Air Force and Lockheed Martin, carries a demonstration payload that will transmit L5, a new third civil signal. The L5 demonstration payload will comply with...

[Satellite Today 03-25-09] NASA’s NOAA-19 spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin and launched in February, completed a 45-day on-orbit verification period, the manufacturer announced March 23.     The satellite, formerly called NOAA-N and designated NOAA-19 when it reached orbit, is the final spacecraft in NASA’s Television and Infrared Observational Satellite series — all designed by Lockheed...

[Satellite Today 03-25-09] Wavestream Corp., a manufacturer of solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs), has introduced a line of 160-Watt X-band SSPAs for commercial and military applications, the company announced March 23.     Using proprietary spatial power combining technologies, the company said it was able to pack 160 watts of solid-state output power at 1dB compression into...

[Satellite Today 03-24-09] Alliant Techsystems (ATK) signed a $257 million contract with United Space Alliance to perform subcontractor support to ATK for the NASA‘s Ares 1 and Ares 1-X programs through the design, development, test and engineering phase, ATK announced March 18.     Under the terms of the contract, United Space Alliance also will provide...

[Satellite Today 03-24-09] The Malaysian government has shipped RazakSat from the Royal Malaysian Air Force Subang airfield to Kwajalein Island, where the satellite will be launched April 21, Malaysian government offcials announced March 21.     Two other smaller satellites, CubeSat and InnoSat, weighing less than 10 kilograms each, also were attached to the body of...

[Satellite Today 03-24-09] Miteq has introduced the PA-H Model series, a new product line of medium-power X-band antenna-mount solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) and transmitter product line — the PA-H Model series, Miteq announced March 23.     The ruggedized PA-H product series is designed for outdoor SSPA applications required for satellite uplink applications. The systems uses...

The Air Force gave Raytheon Co. [RTN] a $23 million undefinitized with firm fixed price contract for production of 70 Maverick Missiles and a guidance and control section. A unit at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, manages the contract. The Maverick is a tactical air-to-ground weapon for close air support that is employed against armor,...