Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) was awarded a $1.5 million study contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center‘s Milsatcom Systems Directorate to evaluate options available to meet future war fighting communications needs, the satellite manufacturer announced March 2. 
    The goal of the study is to assess the application of innovative and feasible commercial-like acquisition approaches to enhance affordability, reduce delivery time and expand the space industrial base.
    “Commercial satellite production routinely provides high data rate multimedia services to fixed and mobile users on fast schedules, with economy of scale pricing and exceptional reliability. The study results will further enable [the Space and Missile Systems Center] to take advantage of these benefits on future Milsatcom programs,” SS/L Vice President Al Tadros said in a statement.