Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has announced that it was selected by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) to develop affordable design concepts for next generation Protected Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM). SS/L has a long history of successfully delivering timely and affordable high-performance commercial satellite systems.

As a prime contractor leading several protected communications system and technology domain expert companies, SS/L is well-positioned to provide proven solutions with shorter schedules and lower, better controlled cost, to defend against growing and changing intentional jamming and cyber threats and to deliver advanced communications capability to the warfighter.

In today's cost-conscious environment, the objective of the SMC program is to develop practical new architectures and technologies that will protect increasingly contested and threatened high security communications.

Space Systems/Loral will combine its expertise and existing technologies from commercial developments together with existing military technologies provided by a team of domain experts to assess options for both space and ground segment design.

"The protected MILSATCOM contract is an opportunity for SS/L to continue its efforts to serve the U.S. Government with cost-effective solutions based on commercial market innovation," said John Celli, president of SS/L.

"Working with our industry partners, we will use domain expertise, proven military technology, and our supply chain efficiencies to quickly bring increased capability to the warfighter."

The SS/L business is based on addressing changing requirements in mobile communications, broadband, and high definition video broadcasting within the budget and schedule constraints of the commercial marketplace.

For the SMC's Protected MILSATCOM program, SS/L will help remedy existing gaps in the space communications layer and demonstrate specific design concepts focused on improved life-cycle affordability that will meet the warfighter needs far into the future.