Mary-Louise Hoffman
U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, head of the branch’s Space Command, declared initial operating capability Tuesday for a Lockheed Martin-built joint service satellite communications system.
The Air Force said Thursday its 4th Space Operations Squadron operates the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite, which is designed to help warfighters transmit protected data when they perform land, sea and air missions.
Lockheed built the AEHF satellite in partnership with Northrop Grumman.
The system is available to military users from the U.S., the Netherlands, Canada and the U.K.
“With AEHF reaching IOC, the system’s international partners can more quickly and safely command some of the world’s most capable militaries to address global instability as it arises,” Mark Calassa, Lockheed’s vice president of protected communication systems, said Friday.
The satellite will work to deliver images, videos and other mission data types to aviation, maritime and ground troops during humanitarian relief, anti-piracy and special operations, according to Lockheed.
AEHF is also designed to avoid jammers, eavesdropping devices and cyber attacks, and to provide a communication link between military commanders and national leaders.
