Global satellite solutions provider SES Government Solutions
has been awarded an $8,245,160 firm-fixed-price COMSATCOM
Pathfinder contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile
Systems Center (SMC) based in Los Angeles, California. The
contract will provide on-orbit transponders to support Ku-band
communications for U.S. Africa Command.
Pathfinder is viewed as an innovative business model
available to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for the
acquisition of critical communications infrastructure. This
model allows the DoD to pre-commit to the use of commercial
satellite transponders for multiple years and therefore lowers
the cost when compared to the traditional O&M leasing approach.
With this award, SES GS will provide inclined satellite capacity
while the U.S. Government takes advantage of the reduced cost.
Tip Osterthaler, President and Chief Executive Officer of SES
GS noted, “The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center should
be applauded for once again challenging the traditional paradigm
and uncovering a new and cost effective solution to meet their
SATCOM requirements. Because of these efforts, critical
commercial communication satellite capability in an area of high
demand is secured for the remaining life of the satellite with
the cost benefits offered by this alternative to one-year
contracting.”
