RESTON, Va. — SES Space & Defense has been awarded a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command to provide managed Ku-band satellite communications services for the U.S. Department of Defense. The agreement is intended to simplify and speed up the procurement of secure satellite connectivity for military operations worldwide.
Under the BPA, all branches of the U.S. military will be able to access managed Ku-band satellite communications for operations in remote and challenging environments where traditional cellular or terrestrial communication networks are unavailable. The agreement enables military users to obtain secure, high-speed satellite connectivity through a streamlined purchasing process.
The services will operate over Ku-band satellites, which are widely used for broadband communications because of their broad geographic coverage, reliable performance, and ability to support high-speed data transmission across long distances.
Managed Services Included Under the Agreement
The contract provides military customers access to SES Space & Defense's managed Flex portfolio, which includes services designed for different operational requirements.
FlexMove provides satellite connectivity for personnel operating on the move as well as those working from temporary or fixed locations in areas without conventional communications infrastructure.
FlexGovSecure delivers protected government communications by incorporating Transmission Security (TRANSEC) technology. TRANSEC is designed to conceal communication signals, reducing the risk of signal detection, tracking, interception, or unauthorized access during sensitive operations.
FlexAir is an aviation-focused satellite communications service developed in partnership with Satcom Direct Government (SDG), a Gogo company. Under the agreement, SDG will provide inflight connectivity using its proprietary Gogo Plane Simple Ku-band antenna terminals for military aircraft.
Supporting Military Communications
The BPA reflects the U.S. government's continued use of commercially managed satellite communication services to support defense operations. Instead of building and maintaining dedicated satellite communication infrastructure, military organizations can access commercial satellite networks that are already operational.
This approach allows the Department of Defense to obtain satellite connectivity more quickly while reducing the costs and complexity associated with operating proprietary communication systems.
David Broadbent, President and CEO of SES Space & Defense, said managed services such as Flex give military customers access to advanced SATCOM capabilities without the expense and operational burden of maintaining their own infrastructure.
"Managed services like Flex provide access to advanced SATCOM capabilities without the cost and complexity of maintaining proprietary infrastructure," Broadbent said. "The managed service allows our customers to focus on mission objectives while leveraging industry speed, innovation, and efficiency."
Hayden Olson, Head of SDG, said the partnership will support reliable communications for military aviation missions.
"Our Plane Simple Ku-band antennas and extensive understanding of military expectations and requirements position us to support SES in delivering seamless, resilient, high-speed global connectivity to support mission-driven solutions," Olson said.
SES Space & Defense's Role
SES Space & Defense is a wholly owned subsidiary of global satellite operator SES and operates under a proxy board that enables it to manage classified projects and develop secure satellite network solutions for the U.S. government.
The company has supported U.S. government satellite communications programs for nearly 60 years. Its parent company, SES, is headquartered in Luxembourg and operates a fleet of more than 70 satellites in geostationary (GEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing data connectivity and video services worldwide.
The newly awarded five-year BPA positions SES Space & Defense to continue supplying secure, resilient, and high-speed satellite communications for U.S. military personnel conducting operations in remote locations and during mobile deployments around the world.
Source : satellitetoday
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