Teams have been selected to bid for the USAir Force's next communications and surveillance satellite programmes.
Hughes Space and Communications and Lockheed Martin have each won a $22 million contract to define the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) communications satellite system, follow-on to the Milstar programme.
The Advanced EHF constellation will comprise four crosslinked satellites covering from 65íN to 65íS. Lockheed Martin has teamed with Milstar payload supplier TRW to bid for the Advanced EHF programme.
The two teams have been awarded 18-month system definition contracts. One will be selected to develop the Advanced EHF, beginning in April 2001, with the first launch expected in 2006.
In the meantime, the USAF has picked teams led by Spectrum Astro and TRW to enter the programme definition and risk reduction phase of the Space-Based Infrared System Low programme to replace Defense Support Programme ballistic missile warning satellites.
Source: Flight International