The U.S. Navy’s fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS 4) secure communications satellite. Photo: United Launch Alliance (ULA)

[Via Satellite 11-06-2015] Harris Corporation announced Nov. 4 that the two unfurlable mesh antenna reflectors have successfully deployed onboard the U.S. Navy’s fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite. Lockheed Martin built the satellite and Harris fabricated the antennas along with the precision booms to secure them to the satellite.

MUOS will consist of five satellites with both legacy Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) payloads and an advanced payload enabling “smartphone-like,” beyond– line –of– sight connectivity. Harris has built 10 reflectors for the MUOS constellation, two per satellite — a 14-meter diameter unit for multiple-beam operation that significantly increases the number of users and traffic the system can support, and a 5.4-meter diameter unit for legacy operations.

Harris also plays a role in developing tactical radio terminals for MUOS. The company’s Falcon 3 AN/PRC-117G manpack radios can access MUOS via a software update, and the new AN/PRC-158 multichannel radio, initially designed to compete for the U.S. Army‘s HMS manpack program, will also host the MUOS waveform.