The Air Force is negotiating with Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) prime contractor Boeing [BA] to add anti-jam capability to future WGS satellites, starting with the eighth spacecraft, according to an Air Force official.
Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSMC) Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Systems Director Robert Tarleton told reporters Friday nothing is finalized. Tarleton said there isn’t much anti-jam capability in WGS-7, set for launch Wednesday, but there could be in future editions. WGS, which Boeing described as the Defense Department’s highest-capacity communications satellite system, provides warfighters with wideband tactical communications capability.
WGS-7 is set for launch Wednesday at 8:07 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch will take place on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket. The Air Force said Tuesday morning there was a 40 percent change of violating weather conditions that could delay the launch.
AFSMC Commander Lt. Gen Samuel Greaves said in a statement WGS-7 is the first satellite under the 2011 contract that will produce space vehicles seven-through-10. The Air Force in Sept. 2011 awarded Boeing a $1.1 billion firm-fixed-price contract modification for WGS-7, advance procurement of WGS-7 and an option to produce, process, launch and activate on-orbit WGS-9.
The Air Force in July 2012 awarded Boeing a $339 million contract modification for WGS-10. The authorization includes production, launch site activities, initial orbital operations and checkout, according to a Boeing statement.
ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing.