....the contract option for production of the ninth satellite for the Wideband Global Satellite Communications program, or WGS. This contract award, valued at $377 million ensures the continuation of critical wideband communications support to the warfighter.
This satellite is being procured under a recently-announced long-term international partnership on global military satellite communications with Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States. The WGS-9 satellite is a part of the WGS Block II follow-on contract consisting of options for WGS-7, 8 and 9. The Block II follow-on satellites will be procured under a new commercial-like operating model that has resulted in savings to the U.S. government of more than $100 million without compromising mission assurance. These savings arise from streamlining processes, tests and governmental oversight functions commensurate with the maturity of the WGS production line. The acquisition of WGS-9 continues the production of WGS satellites that began in 2000. WGS-1, -2 and -3 satellites are operational and in geosynchronous orbit. WGS-4 is being readied for launch later this month. WGS-5 through 8 satellites are currently in production.
Wideband Global SATCOM provides anytime, anywhere communication for the warfighter through broadcast, multicast and point-to-point connections. WGS is the only system that can support simultaneous X- and Ka-band communications. The WGS crossbanding capability makes communicating across terminal types transparent to the warfighter. WGS currently collects and routes real-time data through more than 700 X-band, 3,100 Ka-band and 400 X/Ka-band terminals in all theaters of operation.