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Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif., will design and build a new generation of mobile communications satellites for the U.S. Navy under a $2.1 billion contract announced by the U.S. Defense Department Sept. 24.
The Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes General Dynamics C4 Systems, Harris Corp. and Boeing Satellite Systems, beat out a Raytheon-Space Systems/Loral combo for the highly coveted Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) contract.
The initial seven-year contract covers construction of two satellites and associated ground systems. Options for three additional satellites, one of which would serve as an on-orbit spare, could bring the total contract value to $3.27 billion and stretch the work out to 2015. The MUOS system will provide secure communications to ships at sea as well as mobile land forces via a constellation of four satellites, the first of which is expected to launch around 2010. Subsequent satellites would launch at a rate of roughly one per year, said Len Kwiatkowski, vice president of military space programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
As prime contractor, Lockheed Martin will be responsible for the satellites and overall system integration. General Dynamics C4 Systems of Scottsdale, Ariz., will handle the ground segment, while Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, Calif. -- which built the Navy's existing UHF Follow On mobile communications satellites -- will supply legacy UHF payload components. Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Fla., will supply the umbrella-like mesh antennas for the satellites. Northrop Grumman is also on the team.
Raytheon spokeswoman Patricia Perlini expressed disappointment at not winning the MUOS contract. She said Raytheon will wait until after it has been debriefed by the Navy to decide whether to appeal the decision.
"For corporate priorities this was amongst the highest we've competed for this year," Kwiatkowski said. "This was a must win and was on the president of the corporation's watch list."
http://www.isrjournal.com/story.php?F=386359
The Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes General Dynamics C4 Systems, Harris Corp. and Boeing Satellite Systems, beat out a Raytheon-Space Systems/Loral combo for the highly coveted Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) contract.
The initial seven-year contract covers construction of two satellites and associated ground systems. Options for three additional satellites, one of which would serve as an on-orbit spare, could bring the total contract value to $3.27 billion and stretch the work out to 2015. The MUOS system will provide secure communications to ships at sea as well as mobile land forces via a constellation of four satellites, the first of which is expected to launch around 2010. Subsequent satellites would launch at a rate of roughly one per year, said Len Kwiatkowski, vice president of military space programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
As prime contractor, Lockheed Martin will be responsible for the satellites and overall system integration. General Dynamics C4 Systems of Scottsdale, Ariz., will handle the ground segment, while Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, Calif. -- which built the Navy's existing UHF Follow On mobile communications satellites -- will supply legacy UHF payload components. Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Fla., will supply the umbrella-like mesh antennas for the satellites. Northrop Grumman is also on the team.
Raytheon spokeswoman Patricia Perlini expressed disappointment at not winning the MUOS contract. She said Raytheon will wait until after it has been debriefed by the Navy to decide whether to appeal the decision.
"For corporate priorities this was amongst the highest we've competed for this year," Kwiatkowski said. "This was a must win and was on the president of the corporation's watch list."
http://www.isrjournal.com/story.php?F=386359