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Satnews Daily
August 16th, 2018

Maxar’s SSL to Define Next Generation Secure MILSATCOM for the U.S. Air Force


SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR), has been selected selected to help define next generation protected communications for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.

SSL will develop, test and analyze antenna subsystem prototypes through a contract with the Space Enterprise Consortium, managed by Advanced Technology International. The award highlights SSL’s ability to contribute to U.S. leadership in space with novel concepts for the U.S. Department of Defense’s next-generation spacecraft systems.

Leveraging its knowledge of trends in satellite communications and next-generation advances both in space and on the ground, SSL will create antenna subsystem prototypes that define and demonstrate key technologies for a resilient, cost-effective, and high performance protected tactical satellite communications capability. The study builds on previous SSL studies to develop and demonstrate next-generation military satellite communications architectures for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.

SSL will develop, test and analyze antenna subsystem prototypes through a contract with the Space Enterprise Consortium, managed by Advanced Technology International. The award highlights SSL’s ability to contribute to U.S. leadership in space with novel concepts for the U.S. Department of Defense’s next-generation spacecraft systems.

Leveraging its knowledge of trends in satellite communications and next-generation advances both in space and on the ground, SSL will create antenna subsystem prototypes that define and demonstrate key technologies for a resilient, cost-effective, and high performance protected tactical satellite communications capability. The study builds on previous SSL studies to develop and demonstrate next-generation military satellite communications architectures for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.

As part of Maxar Technologies, SSL brings unmatched integrated capabilities, solutions and expertise from the company’s four leading space brands to address complex mission-critical challenges that require vision, agility and value. The company’s trusted partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense is gaining momentum with contributions to a variety of next-generation studies that position SSL and the Maxar family of companies as important contributors to our nation’s leadership in space. SSL recently completed a study exploring new solutions for next-generation space architectures to meet the objectives of the U.S. Air Force Space Command’s Space Enterprise Vision, which is expected to accelerate crucial technologies for resilient space defense capabilities.

Executive Comment

Richard White, President of SSL Government Systems, said that the combination of SSL’s agile mindset and innovative new space technologies with our team’s experience in multiple generations of MILSATCOM architectures uniquely positions us to accelerate the DoD’s development and integration of cost-effective and highly advanced solutions that will support the defense of our nation. There are more than 85 SSL-built communications satellites currently in-orbit, and we are proud to leverage that experience to further expand and support U.S. Air Force capabilities.