This is the space-based component of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture.
Operating in geostationary orbit – 35,700 km from the Earth’s surface – the ESS will provide persistent coverage to strategic U.S warfighters across the globe. And the craft will provide “increased capacity, flexibility, reliability”, said the company, compared to the existing strategic communications satellites.
NC3
“It’s a critical time to advance U.S. space capabilities to ensure peace through strength,” said Cordell DeLaPena, the U.S. Space Force Program Executive Officer for the Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Directorate.
“The strategic communication mission requires protection, power and always-available capability, even through adversary attempts to interrupt our connectivity. These satellites will provide connectivity from space as part of a refreshed NC3 architecture for our nation.”
Boeing is due to deliver the first of the two space vehicles by 2031.
ESS
The company says the ESS satellites will use technology it has already developed for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 military satellites. It highlights this is also already proven on-orbit aboard SES’s commercial O3b mPOWER constellation.
Building on this, the new military communications satellites be further equipped to protect signals against interruption or interception. This is simply described as “a highly protected waveform and classified technologies developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense”.
National security
“The U.S. needs a strategic national security architecture that works without fail, with the highest level of protection and capability,” said Kay Sears, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space, Intelligence and Weapon Systems.
“We designed an innovative system to provide guaranteed communication to address an evolving threat environment in space.”
Note that the initial contract is for two satellites, but with options for two more in the future.
“This win validates all the investments and innovations we’ve made in our satellite technology, creating a technically mature and low-risk offering for the government,” added Michelle Parker, vp of Boeing Space Mission Systems.
“We scaled our production capacity, invested in our team, hired cleared talent, and assembled hot production lines to make sure that we can hit the ground running from day one.”
Image: Boeing – Artist’s impression of an Evolved Strategic Satellite (ESS) satellite.
See also: FCC approves Boeing broadband satellite constellation
