US Air Force to update missile systems
The US Air Force will update its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) communication systems in Launch Control Centers (LCC), it reported on 14 January. The operational testing is expected to begin in January.
This is an effort led by the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Program Upgrade (MMPU) team, at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. MMPU will be the first Air Force Advanced Extremely High Frequency terminal fielded in support of the new Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite architecture.
Using extremely high frequency signals from a Milstar satellite, current terminals receive emergency action messages and serve as the primary satellite communications system for ICBM LCCs. The development of the AEHF satellite constellation to replace Milstar requires the Air Force to upgrade its hardware to support AEHF operations.
According to programme officials, the month-long operational testing period will determine how well the new equipment operates in the field while running on active networks.
One of the most notable capability improvements comes in the form of data rate transfers. Under the AEHF satellite constellation, messages are transmitted many times faster than the current Milstar system. In addition to increased data rates, MMPU will provide nuclear security architecture.
MMPU programme officials remain optimistic that the upgrade will reach initial operational capability in early 2016. Ultimately, the team intends to modify all the terminals within the LCCs managed by three air force bases: Malmstrom, Montana; FE Warren, Wyoming; and Minot, North Dakota.
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