Boeing

Boeing [NYSE:BA] has successfully completed two significant U.S. Air Force reviews of its design for the Transformational SATCOM Space Segment (TSAT SS).

TSAT SS will be a major element of a secure, high-capacity global communications network serving the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and the Intelligence Community, and is considered the enabler of Network Centric Warfare.

The Boeing led best-of-industry TSAT SS team recently completed the Space Segment Requirements Review by demonstrating requirements comprehension, allocations and design implementation status. In addition, a Risk Reduction Requirements Review milestone was also completed for the TSAT SS program.

A major development effort for the DoD, TSAT SS creates net-centric functionality that will enable defense and intelligence professionals to make rapid decisions based on integrated and comprehensive information.

"These satellites will be critical in transforming military communications into the broadband age providing instant, interoperable, web-based connectivity to warfighters on the battlefield, at sea and in the air -- all over the world," said Dave Ryan, vice president and general manager, Boeing Satellite Systems. "For those in command and control, Boeing's efforts will provide comprehensive real-time, quality information to improve situational awareness and shorten the time required to make critical decisions."

The current study contract, awarded to Boeing in January 2004, will continue through 2006.The government will select a single contractor in 2007 to proceed with development. First launch is planned for early in the next decade. Supported by a constellation of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, TSAT SS will provide the backbone of the DoD's high-bandwidth networked communications.

The Boeing team developed a baseline architecture incorporating technologies focusing on the customers' requirements. Those requirements include laser communications to create high-bandwidth spacecraft-to-spacecraft links, as well as links to airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, next-generation antenna technology, and onboard high-speed programmable routing.

"We consider TSAT SS a revolutionary leap beyond existing satcom systems," said John Fuller, vice president Boeing Air Force Space Systems. "Our team's solution will support a truly transformational system with the ultimate goal of providing the warfighter with superior capabilities to operate in, and fight future conflicts far more effectively in a network centric environment."

The Boeing team includes Raytheon, Ball Aerospace, General Dynamics, IBM,

L-3 Communications, Cisco Systems, BBN Technologies, Hughes Network Systems, Lucent Technologies, Harris, EMS Technologies, and Alpha Informatics.