Lockheed Martin Unveils A2100 Satellite Improvements Aimed at Increased Capabilities with Lower Cost and Risk

Sept. 9, 2013

Lockheed Martin has applied substantial enhancements to its A2100 satellite platform to meet current and future global communications market needs.

The new A2100 technical update addresses design architecture and manufacturing processes, offering satellite operators catalog-to-order solutions that leverage common parts, subsystems and components to meet specific customer and mission needs.

“We literally are transforming our business, engineering and production processes,” said Linda Reiners, president of Lockheed Martin Commercial Ventures, a major line of business within Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. “Across-the-board benefits enable A2100 production at lower cost, risk and reduced cycle time, which yields shorter time-to-orbit and quicker time-to-revenue generation for commercial customers.”

The updated A2100 design features the following advantages:

Propulsion flexibility that includes all-electric, all-liquid, or hybrid systems optimized to customer business plans; the all-electric propulsion will provide up to half the time-to-orbit capability than other electric systems;

Improved link performance and increased traffic capacity;

Extended mission life;

High-performance thermal design;

Dual launch capability, featuring lowest cost-to-orbit and highest payload accommodation

“Product architecture, engineering, design and manufacturing process innovation, combined with our extensive A2100 heritage, ensures a low-risk approach that provides maximum capability to our domestic, international and government customers,” continued Reiners. “Standard interfaces across all of our satellite programs streamline spacecraft integration and minimize non-recurring engineering costs.”

There are currently 45 A2100 spacecraft in orbit, including 39 commercial satellites and six satellites performing U.S. government missions. The fleet is equipped with over 1,500 transponders transmitting data, video and audio for satellite operators worldwide. The satellite platform meets a wide variety of telecommunications needs, including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band, Ku-band and X-band, high-power direct broadcast services using Ku-band mobile and satellite services using EHF, UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads.