U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System
A team led by General Dynamics C4 Systems has successfully completed the second of three incremental ground segment tests for the U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), the U.S. military’s next-generation narrowband satellite communications system. The company will provide the user entry and integrated ground segments to Lockheed Martin, prime contactor for the MUOS program. MUOS will provide cell phone-like services to ground-based warfighters, enabling users to communicate directly with each other and their commanders virtually anywhere in the world.
There are three ground system builds that incrementally will deliver the MUOS Ground System. Ground System Build 1 was successfully completed in April 2008 demonstrating the capability to command and control the MUOS satellite. It was installed and tested at the Naval Satellite Operations Centers (NAVSOC) in Point Mugu, Calif., and Colorado Springs, Colo.
The recently completed Ground System Build 2 will be tested with the first MUOS satellite at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., where final integration of the satellite is underway. Build 2 installation supporting the first MUOS satellite launch and on-orbit testing will occur at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific (NCTAMS PAC) in Wahiawa, Hawaii.
Ground System Build 3 will complete the remaining ground systems capabilities. Deploying to four sites around the world, including Wahiawa, to provide global coverage for the MUOS constellation, it will complete testing during the fourth quarter of 2010.