The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center stated that it has finalized a deal worth $3.3 Billion with Lockheed Martin. Reportedly, through this deal named IDIQ (indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity), Lockheed Martin will offer support services on confidential military communications satellites. This is a 10-year contract intended to offer support and operations of the Milstar, AEHF (Advanced Extremely High Frequency), and DSCS (Defense Satellite Communications System) III constellations. Through these satellites, the State Department, the White House, and military users get anti-jam, nuclear-hardened worldwide communications. Moreover, the nuclear command and control system of the nation is also supported by these satellites.
Diverse US allies such as the Netherlands, the U.K., and Canada also employ AEHF. The assistance work for Milstar, DSCS, and AEHF constellations is strengthened by the Air Force through a joint orbital operations logistics and resiliency deal. Since 2009, the key contractor for this program is Lockheed Martin. Moreover, the firm had no competitor for the latest deal worth $3.3 Billion. The delivery of 5 out of 6 AEHF satellites procured by the Air Force is successfully completed by Lockheed Martin, with the 1st satellite lifted off in 2010 and the 5th in 2019. The construction of all these 5 satellites was carried out at the firm’s Sunnyvale, California factory. At present, the remaining 6th satellite is in the production stage and slated to be lifted off in 2020.
On a similar note, a brand new Earth observation satellite named Gaofen-7 was recently lifted off by China. The CNSA (China National Space Administration) stated that the latest satellite will have a key role in rural and urban construction, land mapping & surveying, and statistical study. It added that Gaofen-7 is China’s foremost civil-use optical transmission 3-dimensional mapping and surveying satellite reaching the sub-meter level. The launch of Gaofen-7 was carried out from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China’s Shanxi Province.
Aileen Hill studied masters in atmospheric science and looks science domain for our portal. She is connected with us from the past 4 years. Aileen writes about science-related newsletters, space agencies missions, space exploration, space shuttle programs, and major events. She believes that every new project is an opportunity to raise the bar. Her success mantra is taking any simple idea and working on it with full dedication. She believes an ideology gives a person a vision to evolve. She helps others with her helpful opinions and knowledge about space science. Outside of the workplace, Aileen enjoys playing football.
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