[Satellite Today 10-09-09] Boeing has been informed by the U.S. Air Force that the second Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite began operations Aug. 18, supporting warfights in the Middle East and Central Asia, the company announced Aug. 6.

            The Boeing-built WGS-2 satellite was launched in April from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and handed over to the Air Force in June for on-orbit testing. The first WGS satellite began supporting U.S. and allied operations across the Pacific in April 2008.

            The WGS satellites augment and eventually will replace the Defense Satellite Communications System constellation. One WGS satellite can support more than 12 times the capacity of one DSCS satellite.

            The WGS satellites are built on the Boeing 702 platform. Boeing is building three Block 1 and three Block 2 satellites for the Air Force. WGS-3, the final satellite in the Block 1 series, is scheduled for launch before the end of 2009. The Block 2 satellites are planned for launch in 2011 and 2012.

Boeing Hands Over Wideband Satellite To Air Force    SMD Report   June 22, 2009
The Boeing Co. [BA] transferred control of the second Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite to the Air Force, which will monitor and control the new satellite from Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. WGS-2 was declared ready for Department of Defense…

Growth in Military Satcom Needs Reaches New Levels; Opens More Opportunities   Satellite Today   June 8, 2009
The bandwidth needs of the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Defense and its coalition forces have increased to the point where the U.S. government now relies on commercial satellite providers for 80 percent of its total capacity to…

Globecomm Introduces WGS Ka-Band Terminal   Satellite Today   March 27, 2009
[Satellite Today 03-27-09] Globecomm Systems has released a Ka-band version of its 1.2-meter Auto-Explorer satellite terminal designed for operation with the U.S. Department of Defense Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) system, Globecomm announced March…