With military bases around the globe, the US Air Force is looking for better ways to stay in contact with IT personnel, especially when they could be in hard to reach areas. With this goal in mind, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has announced that it has engaged to work with Hughes Network Systems and OneWeb to demo managed satcom services in strategic Arctic areas. As Space News reports, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) sites will serve as the testing arenas.
The contract is a coup for OneWeb, one of several LEO (low earth orbit) satellite systems increasing wireless communications in previously unreachable regions. “This opportunity reinforces the relationship between Hughes and the U.S. Air Force to ensure resilient, flexible SATCOM networks for tactical, multi-domain operations,” stated Rick Lober, VP and GM of Hughes’ defense and intelligence systems division. “We look forward to partnering with OneWeb to bring LEO innovation into the military SATCOM enterprise, especially in the strategic Arctic region where connectivity has been limited—until now.”
“The OneWeb constellation has been designed to enable low-latency broadband access across the globe, allowing connectivity in previously unreached areas—a capability that is ideal for tactical, multi-domain operations in the Polar region and beyond,” agreed Dylan Browne, head of government services at OneWeb.
While the current agreement is tagged as an experimental venture, all parties are hopeful that it could lead to a mutually beneficial relationship. The contract value of the current agreement is approximately $3.4 million, according to a AFRL spokesman. “As the system matures and other DoD users such as NORTHCOM develop specific requirements, a service contract is a possible option through various contract vehicles,” Lober noted.
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