A digital representation of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). Photo: FAA

[Via Satellite 04-23-2015] Following a $103 million contract from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has awarded a 14-year contract to SES Government Solutions (SES GS) to host a payload on the upcoming SES 15 satellite. Raytheon’s FAA contract funds a Wide Area Augmentation Systems (WAAS) hosted payload, which enhances the accuracy of Global Positioning System (GPS) from 100 meters to roughly 2 meters for improved air navigation. In the same contract, the FAA has also tasked Raytheon with developing two ground uplink stations to support the WAAS system within U.S. airspace.

Raytheon’s contract with SES GS includes the manufacture of the hosted payload, launch on the all-electric SES 15 satellite, and 11 years of on-orbit operations. The company has options to extend the contract on an annual basis. Launching in 2017 to 129 degrees west, the satellite has a life expectancy of 15 years. SES selected Boeing to build the satellite on the Boeing 702SP bus, and Arianespace to launch it aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.