The Air Force shut down the existing Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) program competition without awarding a contract.

Instead, the restructured contest now moves back to square one, with the air service issuing a new draft request for proposal, or RFP, for the first increment of the multi- billion-dollar TSAT system, which would be a scaled-back system.

The competition has seen Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT], the largest defense contractor, pitted against The Boeing Co. [BA], the second-largest defense company, in preliminary work on TSAT.

A contract may be awarded in 2010 for TSAT, an advanced and high-capacity communications system vital to the armed services, especially for the Army Future Combat Systems, a collection of new-design vehicles, aircraft and more, all linked together with the new communications capabilities.

There might be five satellites and ground stations providing message and data routing. TSAT would provide a clear and affordable path to meeting joint users’ needs for satellite communication services.

The Air Force worked with other services, the office of the secretary of defense, joint staff and the combatant commands to assess Department of Defense protected and wideband communication needs in light of force structure and schedule changes to supported programs.

The TSAT program restructure complies with recent direction from John Young, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, and the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC). The altered program balances affordability, technology maturity, and program complexity to meet required demand.

The initial increment of TSAT will consist of five Block 10 satellites and associated ground control systems, with a first launch capability by 2019.

Capabilities solicited in the RFP include internet protocol routing for network management and new means to communicate with deployed forces on-the-move. Overall protected communications throughput of TSAT Block 10 will provide at least a factor of five growth over the earlier AEHF (Advanced Extremely High Frequency) capacity.

Future increments are expected to incorporate laser and Ka-band intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance communications support.

The TSAT program will provide worldwide, secure satellite communications to U.S. strategic and tactical forces during all levels of conflict. It will sustain the MILSATCOM architecture by providing connectivity across the spectrum of mission areas, to include land, air and naval warfare; special operations; strategic nuclear operations; strategic defense; homeland security; theater operations; and space operations and intelligence.