The U.S. Navy has accepted the third Mobile User Objective System satellite from Lockheed Martin following in-orbit testing.

The satellite, launched last January, enhances secure mobile military communications by providing seamless connections globally with new smartphone-like capabilities, including simultaneous voice, video and mission data transmission on a high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.

"MUOS is a game-changer in communications for every branch of our military, which all have mobile users who will benefit from these new capabilities," said Iris Bombelyn, Lockheed Martin's vice president for narrow-band communications. "This latest satellite will expand the MUOS network's coverage over more than three-quarters of the globe, including significantly more coverage north and south than the current legacy voice-only system."

With on-orbit testing complete, MUOS-3 is being relocated to its on-orbit operational slot in preparation for operational acceptance, Lockheed Martin said.

MUOS-1 and MUOS-2, launched respectively in 2012 and 2013, are already operational and providing high-quality voice communications. MUOS-4 is expected to launch later this year.

MUOS satellites, which are replacing a legacy UHF Follow-On system, provide communications data rates of as much as 384kbit/s.