EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,
March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing
has begun building the latest version of the Wideband Global SATCOM
satellite system, WGS-11+, using advanced techniques to effectively
integrate the latest commercial technology while enabling a
high-paced five-year schedule that will deliver years faster than
similar clean-sheet designs.
"We're moving at record-breaking speed to deliver the unmatched
resilience, efficiency, and throughput WGS-11+ offers our
warfighters," said Col. Matt
Spencer, Space Systems Command Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
and Polar Division Senior Materiel Leader. "Boeing's ability to
rapidly integrate the latest commercial technology into our
infrastructure gives us a competitive edge on the battlefield."
Boeing and the U.S. Space Force completed the system's critical
design review in late 2021, officially launching the program's
production phase. Leveraging additive manufacturing, rapid
prototyping, agile development and other advanced techniques,
Boeing has created cost and schedule benefits, while boosting
system performance.
"We're printing more than a thousand parts for WGS-11+, giving
us the capability to introduce customization in a way that improves
system performance, without requiring extensive integration times
or customized tooling," said Troy
Dawson, Boeing Government Satellite Systems vice president.
"We understand how important speed is to the mission. That
production speed translates to effectiveness against threats. As we
continue to invest our technology and processes, we know that a
similarly capable satellite could be delivered even faster."
WGS-11+ showcases an evolution in phased array technology. Based
on Boeing's advances on its commercial 702X software-defined
satellite payload, it is capable of generating hundreds of
electronically-steered beams simultaneously, providing users with
more than twice the mission capability compared to satellites
within the existing WGS fleet.
Like 702X, each individual beam is shapeable and can be uniquely
tailored to any operation, enabling increased mission flexibility
and responsiveness. Narrower beam widths with dual polarization
unique to WGS-11+ help protect against jamming and interference
while allowing greater frequency reuse.
When it joins the constellation of ten WGS satellites, WGS-11+
will substantially increase throughput capacity of essential
communication services for the U.S. government and its allies. It
is scheduled for delivery in 2024.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops,
manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products
and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a
top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global
supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and
community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating
for the future and living the company's core values of safety,
quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com.
Contact
Zeyad Maasarani
Boeing Space & Launch Communications
+1-562-400-5533
zeyad.maasarani@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing