US Space Force increases efforts to plug training capabilities gaps
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The Milstar Satellite Communications System, which is operated by the US Space Force, provides secure communications for US Armed Forces. (Photo: US Space Force)
Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded an eight-year US$579 million contract to Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to provide satellite control capabilities to US Space Force and US Space Command.
As part of the Command-and-Control System-Consolidated (CCS-C) Sustainment and Resiliency (C-SAR) contract, Kratos will provide direct support to numerous systems, including the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III, Milstar Satellite Communications System, Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) and Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) satellite systems.
The contract, which will run from 1 December 2023 through to 30 November 2031, will see Command and Control (C2) capabilities reinforced with an IT infrastructure upgrade,
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The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The service has been conducting several acquisition and upgrading efforts involving artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve communication, data analysis and ISR systems.
The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, was launched last year, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces. Thales has now been selected to provide terminals for vehicles.
The growing importance of space in modern warfare, advancements in satellite technology, and increasing threats from rivals like China and Russia were among the topics of a Eurosatory 2024 panel on military space operations.
AN/ARC-232A is a Starfire radio that provides VHF/UHF communications to airborne platforms and the transceiver is software-programmable, allowing for multiple waveform support as well as optional national electronic counter counter-measure (ECCM) capability.
During the 18-month period of the contract, Lockheed Martin will apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to create surrogate models of aircraft, sensors, electronic warfare and weapons within dynamic and operationally representative environments.