The AEHF system, designed for
both strategic and tactical
users, enables military users
around the globe to securely
transmit critical information
which includes everything from
nuclear command and control to
real-time video, battlefield
maps and targeting data. The
AEHF system is already on orbit,
and can potentially support many
more users than there are
terminals available today.
LCT can enable more tactical
warfighters to be able to use
protected satellite
communications, so they can have
assured connectivity in
contested environments.
"This is a huge milestone for
protected satellite
communications and its military
users," said
Cyrus
Dhalla, vice
president of communications
systems, Northrop Grumman. "LCT
achieves low cost by leveraging
existing designs, technology,
and investments, while adopting
a commercial procurement and
production model. It was
designed for easy operation and
low maintenance and training
costs to make it truly
affordable for tactical users
needing highly protected
anti-jam, low probability of
detection communications."
This is the first time that a
completely industry-funded and
developed terminal has been
allowed to access the AEHF
satellite. In order to reach
this milestone, the security
architecture had to be validated
by the appropriate
organizations, and additional
approvals had to come from
Strategic Command and Air Force
Space Command.
"The ability to send
sensitive information over a
protected network that is
resistant to interruption and
anti-jam is critical to ensuring
the safety and success of our
military troops here at home and
allies abroad," said
Iris
Bombelyn, vice
president, Protected
Communications, Lockheed Martin
Space Systems. "The successful
over-the-air test of the Low
Cost Terminal shows that we are
ready to bring this capability
to more users in the near-term."
The LCT is currently being
developed in three variants:
airborne, ground
comm-on-the-move and rapidly
deployable fixed terminal
designs, which can also be
deployed for maritime
applications. Each variant is
significantly smaller in size
and weight than fully-capable
strategic terminals, making them
a better fit for tactical
applications, while offering
major cost and ease of use. The
Industry team is seeking
government partners to help
champion the final
production-version LCT for
government certification.
Provided testing and
certifications are completed in
time, the terminals can be
available by the end of 2018. No
other option for fielding
protected SATCOM for the
tactical warfighter is possible
in the next few years.
The LCT takes advantage of
Northrop Grumman and Lockheed
Martin system knowledge and
engineering experience gained
over 30 years as providers of
the nation's MILSTAR and AEHF
satellite systems for protected
military communications. They
manage a team which combines
commercial and military
experience, small and large
businesses, which has resulted
in the innovations necessary to
produce an LCT that will cost a
small fraction of the cost of
current generation terminals.
