Lockheed, Northrop Test Low Cost Terminal With On-Orbit Satellite

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman led industry team has tested Low Cost Terminal with On-Orbit AEHF Satellite that will enable more military users to transmit jam-resistant, high-priority communications.

The industry-funded Low Cost Terminal (LCT) was tested this month with an on-orbit Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite, the company announced Thursday.

This critical milestone demonstrates the ability of an affordable tactical terminal to connect with the Department of defense's assured protected communications network.  The industry development team is led by Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin .

The AEHF system, designed for both strategic and tactical users, enables military users around the globe to securely transmit critical information which includes everything from nuclear command and control to real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data.

The AEHF system is already on orbit, and can potentially support many more users than there are terminals available today.  LCT can enable more tactical warfighters to be able to use protected satellite communications, so they can have assured connectivity in contested environments.

Cyrus Dhalla, vice president of communications systems, Northrop Grumman.  "LCT achieves low cost by leveraging existing designs, technology, and investments, while adopting a commercial procurement and production model.

The LCT was designed for easy operation and low maintenance and training costs to make it truly affordable for tactical users needing highly protected anti-jam, low probability of detection communications, he added.