Boeing has been awarded a $106.3 million development contract from the US Air Force and Army for a six- satellite high capacity Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGF) communications network. The contract could eventually be worth up to $1.3 billion.
Boeing will lead an industry team comprising Harris, ITT Industries Logicon and SAIC, to develop the system which is designed to be a bridge between the USAF Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) and an Advanced Wideband Satellite system, which will be operational in 2008. WGF will augment DSCS super high frequency wideband communications and global broadcast services using direct broadcast satellite technology.
The first launch of a Boeing 702-model WGF is due in 2004.
Source: Flight International