MUOS integration and testing. Photo: Lockheed Martin

[Via Satellite 01-14-2014] Lockheed Martin has begun the first system test of the fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for the U.S. Navy. Engineers and technicians recently mated its system module and core to the multi-beam assembly (MBA), which hosts 16 ultra-high frequency (UHF) antennas for distributed, global communications coverage.

MUOS is designed to provide voice, video and data simultaneously to secure end users. The MBA’s antennas beam down coverage to Earth, with each covering thousands of miles of terrain. Lockheed Martin’s latest addition to the constellation is currently ahead of schedule for completion.

“Our fifth MUOS satellite shows strong learning curve benefits,” said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Narrowband Communications at Lockheed Martin. “Compared to our last build, we are approximately 20 percent ahead of schedule

The MUOS antennas and the A2100 bus are both built by Lockheed Martin, and use a system module provided by General Dynamics. Together, the system enables communications coverage using the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access standard, providing a 10-fold increase in transmission throughput over the current UHF satellite system.