Lockheed Martin's A2100 satellite will be the basis for the company's proposal for the US Navy Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite programme, after it ruled out a proposed bid based on team member Boeing's 702 spacecraft.
Lockheed Martin, which last week delivered a final offer to the navy, faces competition for the $6 billion narrowband communications programme from a Raytheon-led team using the Loral 1300 satellite. Raytheon last month submitted its proposal to the navy, which is expected to select a winner next month.
Raytheon selected the Loral platform two years ago, but Lockheed Martin had not disclosed its chosen spacecraft until last week. It primarily ruled out the Boeing design because it felt comfortable using its own spacecraft, says Leonard Kwiatkowski, vice-president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The A2100 enjoys a "favourable reputation" for reliability, he says.
The Lockheed Martin team still relies on Boeing to provide legacy ultra high frequency components.
Kwiatkowski says its proposal offers an architecture that far exceeds the navy's requirements, including video communications, which is not included in the MUOS baseline goals. He also insists the MUOS programme is on track to launch in 2010, despite claims in July by the US Department of Defense that a budget cut introduced by the US Congress could delay the programme by two years.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International