Raytheon to Demonstrate New Tech for US Air Force Communications

[Via Satellite 12-23-2016] The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon Company a $37 million contract to demonstrate new satellite communications technology that will continuously link tactical users with military leaders in contested environments. Managed by the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, the Protected Tactical Services Field Demonstration (PTSFD) program represents an improvement in anti-jam security via the Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) constellation and commercial satellites. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2020.

Eventually, hardware developed and tested under the PTSFD contract can be deployed as upgrades to existing satellite communication terminals. By reusing the antenna and RF front end of existing terminals, costs are greatly reduced, since those are the most expensive elements of any satcom terminal.