US Navy’s MUOS approved for expanded use
The US Navy’s next generation narrowband satellite communication system has been approved for expanded operational use by the US Strategic Command, it was announced on 2 August.
The approval allows the navy and marine corps to use the system on deployment as early as autumn 2018, primarily in the Pacific theatre.
The navy's on-orbit, five-satellite constellation - the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) - began providing legacy satellite communications shortly after the first MUOS satellite launch in 2012. Each MUOS satellite has dual-capability. The legacy satellite communications payload was designed to maintain legacy narrowband communications for the Department of Defense while the advanced MUOS capability came on-line.
The full-suite MUOS payload, known as the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) waveform, adapts commercial cellular technology to allow soldiers to communicate beyond-line-of-sight, more securely and reliably and with ten times the capacity of the legacy capability.
With the MUOS constellation on-orbit, the ground and network management system operational and the WCDMA waveform available for end-user radios, operators with MUOS WCDMA radios are connecting beyond line-of-sight around the globe, transmitting simultaneous voice, video and mission data on an IP-based system that connects to military networks.
The MUOS WCDMA capability entered the combatant command restricted operations phase in July 2016, allowing early adopters to gain experience with the new system. The system is expected to be declared fully operational following Multi-Service Test and Evaluation in summer 2019.
The marine corps announced in June that it would be the first service to widely deploy MUOS. The service is slated to begin initial MUOS fielding in the fourth quarter of 2018, followed by initial operational capability in the first quarter of 2019.
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
-
![BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme]()
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
![Just Released: Space Technology Report]()
Just Released: Space Technology Report
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
-
![Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality]()
Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
-
![Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems]()
Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
-
![Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support]()
Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
