Boeing Secures $439.6 Million Contract for 12th WGS Satellite from U.S. Space Force

Boeing Secures $439.6 Million Contract for 12th WGS Satellite from U.S. Space Force
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 07, 2024

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a significant contract valued at $439.6 million by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command to develop the 12th satellite for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment to enhancing the United States' strategic communications infrastructure, providing the U.S. military and its allies with vital high-capacity, secure, and resilient communication capabilities.

The WGS constellation has been instrumental in offering a backbone for global military communications, delivering unparalleled bandwidth and connectivity to support a range of operations. The introduction of WGS-12 represents a critical step forward, incorporating advanced features that significantly boost the system's overall performance and resistance to adversarial jamming efforts.

A standout feature of the WGS-12 satellite is its responsive, steerable, high-capacity beams. These beams ensure reliable connectivity through the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) ground system, a strategic asset for U.S. military operations. Furthermore, the integration of the U.S. military's jam-resistant Protected Tactical Waveform with antenna nulling capabilities in the Ka band enhances the system's anti-jam communications. Boeing's innovative Protected Tactical Satcom Prototype payload, to be featured on WGS-12, will further expand the anti-jam tactical communications capacity, enabling U.S. warfighters and their allies to maintain operational effectiveness across multiple contested theaters.

Michelle Parker, vice president of Space Mission Systems at Boeing, highlighted the company's commitment to supporting the U.S. military's communications needs. "We are proud to be a mission partner and are ready to continue providing protected tactical communications to the warfighter," Parker stated. She further emphasized the satellite's capability to produce over 1,500 individually steerable, shapeable beams in the Ka band, significantly enhancing the resilience of tactical forces' communications.

The production of WGS-12 leverages state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, including additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and agile development. These advancements not only speed up the satellite's production but also enable significant improvements in system performance. Boeing's El Segundo, Calif., facility, known for its expertise in satellite technology, is currently building WGS-11 and will undertake the production of WGS-12.