US Space Force to Launch AEHF-6 for Protected SATCOMs
The US Space Force and Lockheed Martin will launch the sixth and the final Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) protected communications satellite on March 26.
“The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) protected communications satellite is encapsulated in its protective fairings and mounted atop its rocket in preparation for its planned March 26 launch,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.
It will mark the first launch of a satellite under US Space Force control. AEHF-6 will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket in an Atlas V 551 configuration.
AEHF-6 is part of the AEHF system -- a resilient satellite constellation providing global coverage and a sophisticated ground control system. Together the constellation provides survivable, protected communications capabilities for national leaders and tactical warfighters operating across ground, sea and air platforms. The anti-jam system also serves international allies to include Canada, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and now Australia.
Lockheed Martin developed and manufactured AEHF-6 at its satellite production facility located in Sunnyvale, California. In January, the satellite shipped to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station courtesy of a Super Galaxy C-5 aircraft from the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the AEHF system, and the AEHF team is led by the Production Corps, Medium Earth Orbit Division, at the Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, at Los Angeles Air Force Base.
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