Ninth Boeing Wideband Global SATCOM satellite to expand military communications, interoperability

By Courtney E. Howard

Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Boeing’s (NYSE:BA) newly launched ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite will provide increased military communications capabilities to help enable the United States and six allied nations to prevent, protect against, and respond to attacks.

The WGS-9 satellite launched on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket. Boeing is on contract for 10 WGS satellites, the last of which is tentatively scheduled for launch in 2018

An artist rendering of a Boeing-built WGS block II satellite. (Boeing rendering)

WGS-9 -- funded through an agreement between the U.S. and Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand -- will also serve Australia, which funded the WGS-6 satellite. Each partner country gains access to the capabilities provided by the full WGS system, which include flexible and secure communication transmissions in the X- and Ka-band frequencies

The ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-9) satellite was built by Boeing in its El Segundo, Calif.-based Satellite Development Center. (Boeing photo)

“This unique international collaboration increases military interoperability and expands affordable high-data-rate communications for U.S. and allied partners around the globe,” says Rico Attanasio, executive director, Boeing Department of Defense/Civil Satellite Programs. “WGS-9 is among the most capable military communication satellites on orbit today.”

The eighth, ninth, and tenth WGS satellites include upgraded digital channelizers that nearly double the available bandwidth of earlier satellites in the series, officials say.

Today, every military mission relies on satellite intelligence. Wideband Global SATCOM is the backbone of the US military's communications. With software upgrades for higher bandwidth and powerful anti-jamming, they're more resilient than ever before, guaranteeing uninterrupted communications for our troops.

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