US Navy accepts fourth MUOS satellite
The US Navy has accepted the fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin following the successful completion of on-orbit testing.
The satellite was launched on 2 September, joining MUOS-1, MUOS-2 and MUOS-3, launched respectively in 2012, 2013 and January 2015. The satellite will be re-located to its on-orbit operational slot in Spring 2016 ahead of operational acceptance.
The MUOS satellites and relay ground stations allow beyond line-of-sight secure communications for deployed military forces. The network’s commercial, cellular-based capabilities include simultaneous, crystal-clear voice, video and mission data over a secure high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.
When fully operational, the MUOS network will provide 16 times the capacity of the legacy ultra high frequency communications satellite system, which it will eventually replace.
Iris Bombelyn, vice president for narrowband communications, Lockheed Martin, said: ‘MUOS-4 completes the initial constellation, providing the MUOS network with nearly global coverage. Mobile forces, equipped with MUOS terminals, will soon be able to communicate with each other – including voice, data and exchanging imagery – real-time, virtually anywhere on the Earth.
‘This is a tremendous upgrade in communications capabilities over what currently exists for our nation and our allies.’
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