U.S. Space Force Awards Boeing Communications Satellite Contract

Boeing has secured a $439.6 million contract to manufacture the 12th Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) communications satellite for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command.

The WGS constellation is pivotal in delivering high-capacity, secure, and resilient communication capabilities to the U.S. military and its allies, Boeing said.

The WGS features responsive, steerable, high-capacity beams that ensure connectivity through the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) ground system. Enhanced anti-jam communications are achieved by combining the U.S. military's jam-resistant Protected Tactical Waveform with antenna nulling in the Ka band.

Boeing's new Protected Tactical Satcom Prototype payload, with anti-jam capabilities, will be integrated into WGS-12. This addition will provide the U.S. military with a second Protected Wideband Satellite, expanding anti-jam tactical communications capacity for U.S. warfighters and allies to operate in various contested theaters.

Michelle Parker, Vice President of Space Mission Systems, stated, "Like WGS-11, the 12th WGS satellite will provide critical capabilities to our military with over 1,500 individually steerable, shapeable beams in the Ka band, ensuring tactical forces have resilient communications."

Boeing's WGS-12 communications satellite utilizes advanced techniques such as additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and agile development, contributing to significant growth in system performance.

Boeing is presently constructing WGS-11 at its El Segundo, Calif., site.