The future of Boeing's space and communications business lies not with putting men into space but with providing global connectivity, says Bob Dean, vice-president Business Development and International, Boeing Space and Communications.
"When people think of Boeing they think of an aircraft company, but we are much more.
"We oversee America's space and defence system and can launch interplanetary craft, whether they are the size of a breadbox or a school bus."
But it's Boeing's work on providing future combat systems – what it calls the Integrated Battlespace, giving commanders the ability to "outthink their foes" – that will provide the technology for its future growth.
Integrated Battlespace is a network-centric approach to warfare, with integrated command, control, and communications across all of the different resources.
"Global connectivity is our public adaptation of that programme," says Dean at the show (Hall A/1417). "This will give people the ability to communicate by satellite or fibre wherever they are."
Source: Flight Daily News