[Satellite Today 04-08-09] As part of a restructuring of U.S. defense spending in the 2010 U.S. federal budget, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recommended the termination of the U.S. Air Force’s $26 billion Transformational Satellite (TSAT) program, the White House announced April 6.
    According to a transcript of Gates’ statement on the White House Web site, high costs, technological risk and development delays were cited as primary reasons for the program’s cancellation. The TSAT program consisted of a six-satellite constellation, satellite operations centers, a mission operations system and ground gateways. Teams led by Lockheed Martin and Boeing were in competition for its primary contract.
    As a replacement strategy, Gates recommended the fielding of two additional Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites.
    The final decision on TSAT will be made soon by a U.S. Congress defense committee, the White House said.