MUOS 4, the next satellite scheduled to join the U.S. Navy’s secure communications network later this year, is in final assembly and test at Lockheed Martin’s satellite manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, Calif. Photo: Lockheed Martin

[Via Satellite 06-03-2015] The United States Navy has accepted the third Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite which, having completed on-orbit testing, is being relocated to its operational slot in preparation for operational acceptance. The MUOS 3 satellite launched January 20, and is the latest addition to a network of orbiting satellites and relay ground stations that provides beyond line-of-sight connectivity with smartphone-like capabilities.

Lockheed Martin is under contract to deliver five MUOS satellites and the associated ground system to the U.S. Navy. The first two satellites, MUOS 1 and MUOS 2, launched in 2012 and 2013 respectively and are currently providing voice communications. Lockheed Martin handed over the last of four required ground stations to the Navy in February. MUOS 4 is expected to launch later this year.