Advanced EHF MILSATCOM (SPACE)

Abstract

Develop and acquire Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) satellites, mission control segment and cryptography for survivable, anti-jam, worldwide, secure communications for the strategic and tactical warfighters. AEHF satellites will replenish the existing EHF system (Milstar) providing much higher capacity and data rate (5x increase over Milstar II) capabilities. AEHF is a cooperative program that includes International Partners (Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands). Space Vehicle-1 (SV-1) launched on 14 August 2010. SV-1 experienced a propulsion anomaly and was raised to its geostationary orbit using alternative orbit raising techniques. SV-1 completed on-orbit test and transitioned to operations in March 2012. SV-2 launched on 4 May 2012, successfully completed on-orbit testing in October 2012, and is under operational control as of 7 Nov 2012. With SV-1 and SV-2 launched, the AEHF program has nearly completed its development phase and is now addressing obsolescence, production continuity, supplier stability and industrial base issues. AEHF SV 5-6 are being procured using the Department of Defense (DoD) Efficient Space Procurement (ESP) concept. The ESP concept is a procurement approach which seeks stable production and efficient sub-contractor product management through the block buy of two space vehicles at one time (as described in Advanced EHF MILSATCOM P-40 Exhibit). In addition, the ESP concept includes use of RDT&E funding for a MILSATCOM Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) to fund engineering activities to reduce future production costs through manufacturing and producibility enhancements, improve capabilities through insertion of new technologies, and replace obsolete parts, crypto and materials. The SMI efforts will provide opportunities for competition to develop potential technology upgrades at the component and system level for future satellites of the current or any follow-on system. SMI efforts will include obsolescence management and mitigation, technology maturation, new components' qualification, subsystem and component prototyping, architecture and system concept studies (to include hosted payloads), and pathfinder efforts to address MILSATCOM capability gaps identified in the Joint Space Communications Layer (JSCL) Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) and the "Resilient Basis for SATCOM in Joint Operations" study. The Protected Satellite Communications Services (PSCS) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), using FY13 SMI funds, was initiated in Sep 2013. The purpose of the PSCS AoA is to evaluate space and control segment architectures, along with the associated user segment, to address the required protected satellite communications capabilities in the nuclear, contested, and benign operating environments. In FY14, due to a change in Budget Activity from 4 to 5, funds transfer to PE 0605431F, Projects 657103 and 657104. This program is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes, because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2015
Source ID
0603430F_4_3600_PB_2015
Change Summary Explanation
FY13: Other Adjustment row: -$19.016M, due to sequestration. Congressional Directed Reductions: -$3.000M for program management services excess to need; -$20.000M for satellite and MCS ICS excess to need. Reprogramming: +$5.000M for the Protected Satellite Communications Analysis of Alternatives
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Cost Analysis
  • Data Rate
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Military Communications
  • Military Satellites
  • Obsolescence
  • Procurement
  • Program Management
  • Satellite Communications
  • Spacecraft
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites

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