[11-14-07 – Satellite Today] The United States and Australia signed an agreement to cooperate on the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) system, including adding a sixth satellite to the constellation, expanding the WGS constellation to six satellites, the U.S. Air Force announced Nov. 14.
    The Australian Defence Ministry announced in October that it would fund a sixth WGS spacecraft in order to have access to the U.S. satellite communications system. Australia will fund the satellite plus associated ground infrastructure at a cost of 927 million Australian dollars ($823.7 million). Boeing is under contract with the U.S. Air Force to build three WGS Block 1 and two WGS Block 2 satellites, which will augment capacity provided by the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS).
“The Air Force saw a win-win opportunity to partner with Australia to gain much needed additional capability while also satisfying Australia’s satcom requirements," Gary Payton, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space programs, said in a statement.
    The first WGS satellite is scheduled to begin operations in early 2008m with full operational capability expected in 2013 following the launch of the sixth satellite.