U.S. Army Spc. Devon Boxa, 7-158th Aviation Regiment, flying over Afghanistan on a CH-47D Chinook helicopter. Photo: Spc. Ken Scar, 7th MPAD, U.S. Army

[Via Satellite 09-10-2014] DRS Technologies has renewed its contract with Intelsat General for satellite capacity over Afghanistan. Intelsat General began providing the service in August 2012 through an Intelsat 9 series satellite. Located over southwest Asia, the spacecraft provides 180 MHz of Ku-band capacity to DRS Technologies, a division of Finmeccanica that is supporting U.S. Central Command requirements in Afghanistan.

“Even though U.S. troops are being withdrawn from Afghanistan, the Pentagon will continue to provide support to Afghan forces,” said Kay Sears, president of Intelsat General. “Our satellite connectivity will continue to play a key role in that support.”

Intelsat General reports the renewal was received in the third quarter of 2014 through the U.S. government’s Future Commercial Satellite Communications Acquisition (FCSA) vehicle.