REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Aug. 15, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has completed delivery of the antenna wings for the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite. The delivery to prime contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) allows the team to continue with the critical assembly, integration and test phase of the first flight vehicle.
The Advanced EHF payload consists of a payload module, which performs all the communication processing, switching and control functions, and a suite of antennas of various types located on the earth-facing (nadir) deck of the satellite and two extendable wings. Northrop Grumman delivered the payload module about a month ahead of schedule in February of this year.
Shipment of the wings, including antennas and related mechanisms, from Northrop Grumman to Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif. was completed June 21. Each of the two antenna wings supports three gimbaled antennas for medium-resolution, steerable, uplink/downlink spot beams, plus a gimbaled crosslink subsystem for high-capacity links between satellites in the constellation.
The crosslink subsystem delivered for Advanced EHF is a sophisticated inter-satellite communications system, which enables autonomous global communications without the need for vulnerable terrestrial repeaters. The crosslink subsystem will also interface with the next-generation Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) to allow seamless inter-connectivity between Advanced EHF and TSAT satellites on orbit.
"Delivery of the wings as part of the most complex communication payload ever developed is a remarkable achievement and will bring powerful new capabilities to our warfighters," said Gabe Watson, vice president and program manager of Advanced EHF for Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector. "I am proud of the entire team."
"By leveraging the previous Milstar investment, we were able to deliver these critical payload assemblies and continue the outstanding 25 year track record of this industry and government team," added Stuart Linsky, vice president of satellite communications for the Northrop Grumman Space Technology sector.
The first Advanced EHF satellite is proceeding towards launch next year from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Work on the second payload is well underway at Northrop Grumman, with payload integration in progress.
Advanced EHF is a joint service satellite communications system that will provide global, secure, protected communications for high-priority military ground, sea and air assets. Through the use of advanced technologies and designs, the Advanced EHF payload will provide approximately 10 times more communications capacity and six times higher channel data rates than its predecessor, Milstar II, in a much smaller size.
The Lockheed Martin-led team is to provide three Advanced EHF satellites and the mission control system, under contract with the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, located at the Los Angeles Air Force Base.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.