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TSAT
IOC: 2011
Total Production: 6
Total Program's Cost: USD$18.9 billion
Also Known As:
Transformational Satellite Communications System
Origin:United States of America
Contractor/s:
Boeing, Lockheed Martin
Description:
The US Air Force Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) is a revolutionary program combining technologies never before used in space. The aim is to transform how information is collected on potential adversaries and how US military forces are warned of hostile actions, with the TSAT communications network acting as the backbone of the entire system. To do so, TSAT will connect communications on the ground, at sea, in the air, and in space.
TSAT will be fully interoperable with existing and planned military communications systems and those which are being acquired by NASA and intelligence agencies, while providing secure, high speed and highly available services. The program is expected to run from 2003 through 2015. Initial funding was set at $12 billion for development and production over the noted period but current figures (August 2004) stand above $17 billion. The TSAT also involves changing the ground infrastructure with production of thousands of user terminals which could lead to a costs escalate.
The first TSAT satellite launch is expected in 2011. The US Air Force has scaled back the acquisition of AEHF satellites to improve funding availability for the TSAT program. However, high risks associated to the not proven TSAT technologies and its ambitious goals could lead this program to cancellation. The US Air Force expects to take a decision on the final figures of both TSAT and AEHF programs in November 2004.
Laser communications (LaserCom) and Radiofrequency communications would be provided by TSAT network at a rate of 20-45 Mbps to users on the ground and up to 20 Gbps laser communications connecting TSAT satellites each other. The space-to-air laser communications capability is currently under study, but if finally fielded it would be a real breakthrough. Pentagon focuses on getting larger bandwidth that will be a must for future war and peace time operations.
Six satellites are scheduled for launch starting in 2011 with five of them to be operational satellites and the sixth intended for attrition purposes. Lockheed-Martin and Boeing are competing for this program with a prime contractor selected in 2006.
TSAT Mission Operations System (TMOS) program is valued at $2 billion and will provide the network architecture development and the implementation of the operations and network management elements for the US military's transformational communications initiative. TMOS will address lessons learned during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom enabling internet-like connectivity. The contract award is anticipated by the end of 2005.
In March 2005, the US Air Force released that laser communications (lasercom) test of the concept experiments conducted in New Mexico showed up the possibility of laser communications between both space and a ground station and space and a flying aircraft. Early reports suggested that lasercom was not feasible between space and a ground station due to the atmosphere which diverts the laser beam. Thus pushing lasercom into space to space communications.
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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Last Updated: Sunday, August 24, 2008
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