[Via Satellite 11-04-2014] SES Government Solutions (SES GS) has selected Eutelsat Communications’ U.S. subsidiary Eutelsat America to provide satellite capacity for U.S. Africa Command. SES GS has a five-year Pathfinder award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) that allows the government to pre-commit to commercial satellite transponders for multiple years.

The company included the sale of transponders on a Eutelsat satellite in that Pathfinder award, which came from the U.S. Air Force on behalf of U.S. Africa Command. SES GS said the Eutelsat satellite was an optimal fit for the solicitation based on its coverage of western Africa and its fuel-saving operation in an inclined orbit.