The U.S. Navy in late January accepted delivery of the 11th UHF Follow-On (UFO) spacecraft, built by Boeing, following the satellite’s successful completion of its in-orbit test program. The satellite, which will provide secure mobile communications to military personnel worldwide, was successfully launched on Dec. 17.
Built for the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, the Boeing 601 spacecraft has undergone rigorous in-orbit testing of its communications payload and bus infrastructure. The spacecraft will soon be deployed for active use over the Indian Ocean, where it will help address the critical need for increased military communications capacity.
“This satellite stands as the crowning achievement in a 15-year program in which Boeing has provided the nation’s warfighters with a secure, reliable backbone for critical mobile communications,” said Dave Ryan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Satellite Systems.
“It joins a constellation of other satellites enabling military personnel in all service branches to communicate among ships, aircraft and mobile ground terminals through severe weather and ground cover.”
Boeing previously delivered 10 UFO spacecraft under this contract, originally awarded in July 1988 and now valued at approximately $2.1 billion.
