Space & Strategic :: C3ISTAR Satellites :: AEHF

AEHF

IOC: September 2010
Total Production: 6
Unitary Cost: USD$2.3 billion
Also Known As: Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Milstar III

Origin: United States of America

Contractor/s: Lockheed Martin* and Northrop Grumman

Description: The Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), originally known as the Milstar III, will provide anti-jam communications for command and control, intelligence dissemination, and precision attack. It will replace current Milstar orbital communications network. AEHF system will be fully compatible with legacy Milstar terminals in support of strategic and tactical warfighters.

AEHF satellites will provide over ten times current Milstar's capacity and six times higher data rate transfer than that of Milstar II satellites. According to US military assessment, Milstar network was a critical asset for US success in recent campaigns over Afghanistan and Iraq. AEHF will ensure US dominance during the first quarter of the 21st century.

The AEHF's phased array antenna is being developed by Northrop-Grumman. The phased array antenna will direct radio frequency beams electronically rather than moving reflectors mechanically. The steered agile beams will allow AEHF satellites to connect more areas simultaneously with highly protected channels and faster than Milstar. The uplink phased array antenna will connect the AEHF spacecraft with ground terminals, while minimizing jamming effects and the possibility of signal intercept by enemies.

The US Air Force plans to procure up to 5 AEHF satellites with the first satellite launch scheduled for 2007. AEHF will become the backbone of US military satellite communications network.

In November 2002 two of the planned Advanced EHF satellites were cancelled and the third satellite was delayed one year. FAB-T is the Command Post Terminal for the AEHF Satellite System and thus serves as a key component of the AEHF operations.

On September 20, 2004, Northrop-Grumman began testing of the nulling antenna for the AEHF program at the company's facilities in Redondo Beach, California. Nulling antennas are designed to defeat enemy jammers, thereby preventing service interruption to military users. The Northrop-Grumman uplink phased array antenna began testing in late September 2004.

The US Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $491 million contract to build the third AEHF spacecraft on January 31, 2005.

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:: Specifications ::

Time
Service Life: 14 year

:: News ::

There are 22 news between
28 Sep 2004
and
29 Feb 2012

1 2 3

On-Orbit Testing of First AEHF Spave Vehicle Completed Successfully US Air Force AEHF Satellite Terminal Achieves Two Critical Milestones US Navy Multiband Terminal Successfully Tested with On-Orbit AEHF Satellite FAB-T Demonstrates High-Data-Rate Communications with AEHF Satellite Test Terminal US Military Tactical Units Field First AEHF Satellite Communications Terminals Raytheon Receives First Production Order for the US Navy Multiband Terminal First AEHF Satellite Launched Successfully US Air Force Milstar Constellation Operations Transition to AEHF Ground Control Lockheed Martin Delivers First US Air Force Advanced EHF Satellite First US Air Force Advanced EHF Satellite Completes All Factory Testing

:: Operators ::

Operators
	Country	Items	Country	Items
	United States of America	6

fully confirmed operational planned retired cancelled destroyed

:: Spacecraft Listing ::

Spacecraft
	Name	Flag	Carrier	Launch Site	Launch Date	IOC	Retired
	SV-1		Atlas V	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station	14 August 2010	September 2010	-
	SV-2		Atlas V	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station	4 May 2012	-	-
	SV-3		Atlas V	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station	2013	-	-
	SV-4		Atlas V	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station	2014	-	-

:: Image Gallery ::

There are 8 images added between
2 Dec 2006
and
29 Feb 2012

:: Notes & Resources ::

Last Updated:
Saturday, May 5, 2012

(*) lead contractor

IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
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