As part of the announcement of the deal closing, SES also revealed that David Fields would become the new President and CEO of SES Space and Defense. The thirty-year veteran of the satellite and IT industries would be taking over for Brigadier General Pete Hoene, who would be retiring.

The Government Satellite Report recently had the opportunity to sit down with Fields to discuss the acquisition, what it means for DRS GES and SES Space and Defense customers, and what his first priorities are as President and CEO.

Government Satellite Report (GSR): What kind of business was DRS Global Enterprise Solutions (GES)? What solutions and services did the organization offer? Which government agencies and organizations were among GES’ customers?

David Fields: The DRS GES was in space integration. They were not a satellite operator like SES.

As an integrator, DRS GES would work with government agencies to understand their customers’ satellite and communications needs and requirements. They would then connect those government customers with the best satellite solutions to fit their needs.

We will continue to bring the best of the industry together to meet the demanding mission requirements of agencies across the US Government.” -David Fields

DRS GES was always vendor agnostic – leveraging relationships across the satellite communications industry to get the best, most effective solutions for their government customers. That is something that will not change despite now being a part of SES Space and Defense. We will continue to bring the best of the industry together to meet the demanding mission requirements of agencies across the US Government.

GSR: Why was the acquisition of DRS GES the right decision for SES? How does the addition of the DRS GES business synergize with the company’s existing offerings and capabilities?

David Fields: DRS GES and SES have incredibly complementary capabilities. We’re effectively pulling together portfolios from two successful companies and creating an entity with the combined capabilities to meet even the largest and most critical government satellite requirements.

The integration of the two organizations brings together incredible capability and expertise in  end-to-end network management and multi-band and multi-orbit satellite communications. We’re combining an organization that manages over 10,000 terminals across government networks with a satellite provider that has deep expertise in offering best-in-class satellite communications from multiple orbits.

GSR: Why is DRS GES being organized under SES Space and Defense? Why does this make the most sense for both organizations?

David Fields: Even though the organizations’ offerings didn’t directly overlap – with DRS GES being an integrator and SES Space and Defense being a satellite operator, we did have common U.S. government customers.

While GES did have some non-government customers, they represented a small part of the business. So, it makes sense to bring together two organizations with a long history of servicing the government, deep knowledge about the unique challenges that government customers face, and the importance of their missions.

DRS GES’ terrestrial network has a Risk Management Framework (RMF) authorization from the U.S. Government and is completely approved to connect to government networks.” -David Fields

Bottom line is that both business units have trusted partnerships that have a strong record of enabling many of the most demanding, mission-critical applications required by the US government. With this experience—and now with the organizational scale, technology assets, and technical competencies from the GES acquisition—SES Space and Defense is poised to deepen these customer relationships and deliver long-term value that sustains market leadership.

GSR: What will the addition of  DRS GES mean for SES Space and Defense customers? What new capabilities or services will this make available to them?

David Fields:  DRS GES brings a very significant terrestrial network to the table, as well as a teleport and network operations capability. DRS GES’ terrestrial network has a Risk Management Framework (RMF) authorization from the U.S. Government and is completely approved to connect to government networks. That cyber posture will be a huge advantage for SES Space and Defense customers moving forward.

Also, early on, we’ll be looking to integrate DRS GES’ Information & Communications Technology (ICT) portal and SES Space and Defense capabilities for network management. Doing so, will provide SES Space and Defense’s customers with a transparent, single-pane view of the network. We’ve already begun rolling it out for DRS GES customers, and we’re looking forward to offering that capability to SES Space and Defense customers, as well.

GSR: What does this acquisition mean for DRS GES customers? What can they expect now that DRS GES is a part of SES Space and Defense?

David Fields: DRS GES has been satellite agnostic throughout its entire existence and takes pride in bringing the best satellite services and solutions to their customers based on their unique needs and requirements.

O3b mPOWER is revolutionary in capacity, flexibility, latency, and automation and will open the door for advanced capabilities for our US government and DoD customers.” -David Fields

But now, DRS GES customers will also have immediate access to a fleet of satellites in multiple orbits – GEO and MEO — and multiple frequency bands enabling them to meet surge capacity requirements in a timely manner.

Our DRS GES customers will also have access to SES’ upcoming next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, O3b mPOWER. O3b mPOWER is revolutionary in capacity, flexibility, latency, and automation and will open the door for advanced capabilities for our US government and DoD customers.

GSR: As the new President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, how has your career to date and past experiences positioned you to succeed in this role?

David Fields: My career has spanned more than 30 years, working with large government contractors and small companies, alike. I’ve worked with satellite operators, integrators, and in the IT industry – I’ve even started and sold two of my own startup companies.

We’re seeing massive innovation across the industry and a shift from constellations in a single orbit to satellite fleets spanning multiple orbits, particularly non-geostationary orbits (NGSO).” -David Fields

I believe my experience across all these complementary industries will benefit SES Space and Defense following the acquisition of DRS GES. I particularly think my startup experience will be beneficial. While neither SES Space and Defense nor DRS GES is a startup company, the resulting company will look very different following the acquisition.

GSR: What are your top priorities in this new role as CEO of SES Space and Defense? What can SES Space and Defense customers expect?

David Fields: My highest priority and our largest responsibility are delivering continued, consistent operations for our customers. Regardless of how we organize the company, how we combine its capabilities together, or the resulting corporate structure – the process needs to be seamless and transparent to our customers, and there can be no effect on operations.

GSR: Why is now such an exciting time to be at the helm of a satellite company? What industry trends and government trends make this point in time so important in the space and satellite industries?

David Fields: The industry is completely changing. We’re seeing massive innovation across the industry and a shift from constellations in a single orbit to satellite fleets spanning multiple orbits, particularly non-geostationary orbits (NGSO).

The fact is that today’s modern government systems and applications have increased throughput demands and required the industry to change the paradigm of satellite communications. In doing so, the industry has responded with the evolution of satellite constellations at MEO and Lower Earth Orbit (LEO). It’s exciting and driving a new wave of innovation and change that is unprecedented in the industry.

It’s unlike anything that I’ve witnessed in my thirty-year career.

To learn more about the acquisition of DRS GES by SES, click HERE.

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SES Space and Defense was awarded the initial TROJAN contract in 1998 and has expanded the network as it exists today – providing satellite bandwidth, systems engineering support, operations, and maintenance of the SATCOM network globally.

“We’ve had the honor of supporting INSCOM’s efforts for over two decades on the TROJAN Network, and it is a great privilege to continue serving their mission,” said the President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Pete Hoene. “We look forward to providing advanced SATCOM capabilities and delivering secure and reliable multi-band solutions in support of Army military intelligence missions worldwide in the coming years.”

For additional information click HERE.

Featured image: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Ariana Romero, a satellite transmission operator, sets up a satellite terminal. (Photo by: U.S. Marine Corps SSgt. Marcela Diazdeleon.) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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Since the Viasat attack, commercial satellite operators across the globe have been on high alert for potential cyberattacks and breaches that could potentially compromise or disable their critical systems. In fact, the Viasat attack led President Biden to issue an official statement imploring the commercial industry to prepare for what may come next.

“Most of America’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector and critical infrastructure owners and operators must accelerate efforts to lock their digital doors,” read the President’s statement. “If you have not already done so, I urge our private sector partners to harden your cyber defenses immediately.”

During last month’s SATELLITE 2022 conference, the Viasat incident was top-of-mind as conversations about the attack buzzed throughout the halls and session rooms of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

In one SATELLITE session entitled, “Securing Commercial Systems for Government Use,” the Viasat cyberattack set the table for the panel discussion, as experts from SES Space and Defense, Inmarsat Government, Eutelsat, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the U.S. Army examined how both the U.S. government and the commercial satellite industry can work together to bolster the security of our nation’s commercial systems in space.

Here are a couple key takeaways on securing commercial satellite systems from the adversary and assuring the resiliency of satellite services and connectivity for the future battlefield:

GEO, MEO, LEO…and switching in between

It is imperative that the U.S. military have access to the satellite technologies and services that facilitate assured communications for the warfighter. But just as important as providing those services is the security, resiliency, and speed of those critical systems.

The importance of high-throughput and low latency satellite services provided by Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites was a major discussion point during the session. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Collins shared with the panel that the Army’s focus on its next capability set will be expanding its capacity for MEO and LEO connectivity at the edge, pointing to the orbits’ proven track records on delivering high-throughput, low latency connectivity.

He continued to say how PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingent, and Emergency) communications plans on-orbit could also strengthen resiliency of critical space systems. “I think this SATCOM layer just adds an additional ability for us to do that,” said Maj. Gen. Collins. “We want to leverage it…This is certainly something that we can tap into, and really thickens our communications structure.”

Pete Hoene, President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, also agreed that connectivity provided by MEO satellites will provide the warfighter with high-speed connection that they require on the ground. Referring to the SES O3b MEO satellite service, Hoene explained that it can deliver, “fiber-like latency that is very high-throughput,” and that the next-generation constellation – O3b mPOWER – will build upon those capabilities even further.

Though the latency and throughput provided by MEO satellites solves the issue for warfighters on the ground, they do not necessarily solve security issues on-orbit. But in a recent, successful test by SES and Hughes, the satellite providers were able to demonstrate their ability to switch signals across satellites in Geostationary (GEO) and MEO.

This new signal-switching capability solves a massive amount of on-orbit security issues. By being able to switch signals across orbits, the U.S. can assure the resiliency and security of the satellite systems and services that are available to the military.

Deploying a rapid beam switching capability on an integrated COMSATCOM and MILSATCOM architecture can enable the U.S. military to seamlessly roll-over applications and systems to other satellites inter- or intra-orbit, stopping adversaries in their tracks if they attempt to jam or execute kinetic attacks on commercial satellites leveraged by the U.S. government.

Agile Acquisition

Another key takeaway from the session was the important role agile acquisition of satellite capabilities and services play in securing commercial space assets that the military utilizes. Implementing an agile framework would facilitate faster military adoption of commercial capabilities that are modified and tailored specifically for the warfighter.

According to Maj. Gen. Collins, implementing an agile acquisition framework will allow the military to adopt new commercial capabilities quicker, enabling operators to be ahead of the adversary, which in turn would make space systems more secure. “We can bring in these technologies faster, and we can keep pace with the threat,” said Maj. Gen. Collins.

For Hoene, stronger partnerships between industry and the U.S. government procurement agencies are needed in order for the commercial industry to properly invest in the new capabilities that the U.S. government wants and needs.

To learn more about the recent cross-orbit signal test by SES and Hughes, click HERE.

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“The DRS GES business is well-respected by its customers and within the satellite communications (SATCOM) provider services market, and we are very pleased with the agreement reached with SES,” said Bill Lynn, CEO of Leonardo DRS.  “While the DRS GES business has flourished, Leonardo DRS has shifted its portfolio focus, and selling it now makes the most business sense,” he said.

The DRS GES business is a leading provider of commercial satellite communications to the U.S. government and delivers world-class, mission-critical satellite communications and security solutions to customers anywhere in the world.

SES plans to organize the DRS GES business unit under SES Space and Defense (SES Space and Defense), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES.  For over 40 years, SES Space and Defense has supported the mission-essential operations of Combatant Command (COCOM), Military Services, and other U.S. government customers. SES Space and Defense delivers satellite communication solutions leveraging SES’s 70 satellites at geostationary and medium earth orbits and supporting ground infrastructure.

“SES Space and Defense is the only satellite operator with operational experience delivering multi-orbit, multi-band managed SATCOM services to the Department of Defense (DoD) and its warfighters,” said Pete Hoene, President and CEO of SES Space and Defense.  “With SES Space and Defense and DRS GES’ deep and trusted relationships with U.S. government agencies, we look forward to continuing to provide critical elements to meet the DoD’s connectivity requirements and deliver assured communications.”

Leonardo DRS regularly assesses its portfolio to ensure strong alignment with our customers’ needs and priorities.  As the company continues to focus on transforming to meet the DoD’s important priorities, this divestiture will allow the company to consider larger potential acquisitions that would strengthen its core capabilities and open new market opportunities.

“As we enter a new and exciting phase at Leonardo DRS, we are investing in our strengths to improve our core capabilities,” Lynn said.  “We are looking beyond incremental technology advances and moving towards a larger role in producing ground-breaking, market-disruptive technologies for our customer needs today, and well into the future,” he said.

“The combination of SES Space and Defense and DRS GES businesses unites the leader in multi-orbit satellite networking with unparalleled U.S. government satellite communications integration,” Hoene said.  “Both SES Space and Defense and DRS GES have a trusted reputation for delivering the best network solutions to meet unique and demanding U.S. government requirements.”

Featured image: An airman sets up a satellite in a simulated austere environment at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. (Photo by: Air Force Staff Sgt. Kristine Legate) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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The full end-to-end managed service provides practical, cost-effective solutions to mission parameters by allowing the customer to purchase a volume-based Mbps service, as opposed to MHz bandwidth agreements, whilst ensuring security and performance of the connectivity service.

Leveraging the GovSat-1 satellite, operated by GovSat, tactiXs delivers secure, non-preemptible X-band capacity to customers on an on-demand basis across any domain or austere environment in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Utilizing high-powered, steerable spot beams that can be quickly repositioned to provide robust coverage makes this solution well suited for any U.S. military or government-based mission whether it be comms-on-the-move or comms-on-the-pause.

“Our new service platform is a non-preemptible alternative to WGS that can handle the most tactical-edge customers’ data and mission requirements, and with no lead time required can be set up within hours for the mission at hand,” said President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (retired). “We are proud to partner with both Network Innovations and GovSat as we understand the demand for reliable, uncontended bandwidth and we are excited to bring this innovative and secure solution to the market.”

tactiXs can support a myriad of use cases required by military users, including covert missions and various types of special ops. The GovSat-1 satellite connectivity is ideally paired with the capabilities of the tactiXs platform and has all the key attributes of MILSATCOM such as anti-jam, encrypted telemetry & control as well as secure beam steering & control, and can augment the Wideband Global SATCOM system (WGS) with secure X- and Mil Ka- band capabilities.

“tactiXs is the only commercial satellite managed service available to the military that offers X-band satellite capacity on an as-needed, volume-based basis,” said Patti Aston, a Senior Director at SES Space and Defense. “By making capacity on GovSat-1 available as a short-term managed service, tactiXs enables the military to access X-band capacity specifically tailored to the mission in which communications are needed.”

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Most recently, the U.S. Army announced its integrated ground terminal, Phoenix E-Model, would serve Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced (ESB-E) formations with the likelihood of expanding operations from traditional Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites to leveraging commercial Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellations. In this framework, SES Space and Defense, in close cooperation with Lite Coms, carried out extensive work to update the legacy US Army Phoenix Terminal to be MEO capable (AN/TSC-156(E) for the U.S. Army. The resultant Lite Sat 2.2A terminal delivers 50Mbs on a Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) GEO network and up to 600×600 Mbps on SES’s O3b MEO system.

Leveraging MEO satellite technologies provides the modern warfighter the resiliency, high- bandwidth, and low-latency required for mission assurance in contested environments against advanced adversaries.

“MEO satellites are unique in their capabilities and SES operates the world’s only commercial MEO satellite constellation,” said President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (retired). “Early next year, SES will launch its second-generation MEO system, O3b mPOWER, which promises to meet and exceed the connectivity requirements of today’s warfighting technologies – delivering flexible and secure fiber-like connectivity anywhere the mission requires.”

In alignment with the Army’s stance on MDO, multi-orbit SATCOM solutions that leverage MEO significantly extend the Army’s ability to securely transport data between the command post, soldiers-on-the-move, as well as multiple sensors in support of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2). As the Army increasingly relies on data and network-enabled platforms for deployed warfighters, having interoperable communication systems that are flexible and assured is essential to capturing a common operating picture (COP) for multi-domain operations.

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The SES Space and Defense solution leverages C-band technology, which is highly resilient to weather effects and provides a dedicated reachback beam leveraging single hop connectivity directly to the user site. The SES Space and Defense solution also provides redundancy at all levels, to include antennas, uplink, and downlink telemetry, ground infrastructure, and restoration capabilities. This award is an example of the company’s proven track record of providing reliable services in harsh climate conditions in the Arctic, while ensuring the mitigation of physical antenna degradation.

“We are proud to provide satellite communications support for this critical mission,” said President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (retired). “Thule Air Base is the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation, and this program continues to serve as a great example of the importance of our capability to deliver the critical intelligence data to military decision-makers.”

SES Space and Defense has been the sole provider of commercial satellite communications to Thule Air Base for over 20 years. It has extensive experience overcoming the challenging conditions of operating in Arctic locations, including the extreme cold-weather environment, unpredictable weather patterns, near-horizon location, and logistical challenges.

SES operates the world’s only global satellite fleet of both geostationary and non-geostationary (NGSO) satellites, with expanded capabilities to be deployed in 2022 with the upcoming launch of the next-generation O3b mPOWER constellation.

SES combines its operational experience with its GEO and NGSO global capabilities to deliver multi-band, multi-orbit communications to customers’ remote locations like Thule, where resilience and reliability are non-negotiable.

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The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, through the innovative Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program, are evaluating the ability of Isotropic Systems’ optical beamforming antenna to enable frontline armed forces to access high-speed, real-time data simultaneously over multiple commercial and military satellites.

First phase dual-beam tests conducted at the Harwell Science, Technology and Innovation Campus near Oxford, UK, have successfully demonstrated transformational optics at the core of Isotropic Systems’ multi-beam terminal that are fully capable of linking with multiple satellites at the same time.

Over-the-air (OTA) trials conducted at an SES teleport in Port St. Lucie, Florida, also part of phase one, have verified the Isotropic Systems’ high-performance multi-beam platform meets military requirements to acquire and track SES’ O3b MEO satellites.

Phase two trials will test Isotropic Systems’ latest antenna prototype over links with SES satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO), demonstrating seamless satellite-to-satellite transitions and a redundant, resilient leap in wartime communications. 

The DEUCSI trials will wrap up in 2021, ahead of the commercial launch of Isotropic Systems’ optical multi-beam antenna production scheduled for 2022, and in time to support SES’ new high-throughput MEO constellation satellites coming online, the groundbreaking O3b mPOWER system.

“The armed forces and defense agencies are incredibly good at acquiring actionable information, but they run into bottlenecks when they try to distribute that mission-critical data over single beam parabolic antennas and other outdated infrastructure,” said Scott Sprague, Isotropic Systems CCO. “These milestone trials with the U.S. Army and Air Force are successfully demonstrating the multi-beam, multi-orbit connectivity and capabilities our high-performance terminals will put in the hands of frontline warfighters and decision-makers across the government sector and battlespace.”

First phase dual-beam tests…have successfully demonstrated transformational optics at the core of Isotropic Systems’ multi-beam terminal that are fully capable of linking with multiple satellites at the same time.

“Next-gen satellites and constellations need equally robust and resilient terminals and ground infrastructure to meet the government’s ’Fighting SATCOM’ vision,” said Pete Hoene, President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.). “Interoperability and multi-orbit capabilities are essential to achieving this vision, and these collaborative trials with the armed forces demonstrate how Isotropic Systems’ multi-beam antenna can successfully deliver robust connectivity across our vast MEO and GEO fleet. Each successful phase is a prime example of how the government and commercial partners can develop capabilities in parallel, which is especially important to us as we ready to launch our O3b mPOWER constellation and SES-17 satellite this year.

“Without affecting the main communications link, the Isotropic Systems multi-beam terminal can use a second or third link to evaluate the environment to preemptively decide the best routing option at any given time to maximize performance,” explained Brian Billman, Vice President of Product Management for Isotropic Systems. “That’s the level of differentiating capabilities our terminal roadmap leads to as a result of these important trials with the U.S. military.”

For additional information click HERE to read the official announcement from SES Space and Defense and Isotropic Systems.

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As part of the IDIQ contract, SES Space and Defense is tasked with the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

According to the Air Force, “…the ABMS will be the backbone of a network-centric approach in partnership with all the services across the Department of Defense…that will allow U.S. forces from all services—as well as allies—to receive, fuse and act upon a vast array of data and information in all domains at the speed of relevance.”

This command and control network will connect all forces in theater – as well as all military sensors and sources of information – to give decision-makers unprecedented and timely battlefield insight while delivering advanced network-enabled capabilities to the warfighter.

“Modern warfare demands data and information at the edge, anywhere on earth,” Chief of Space Operations, Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, recently explained to Charles Pope, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. “Potential adversaries are investing heavily in these fields, and we must exploit new approaches to sustain the advantage. We are exploring how to use JADC2 and ABMS to link sensors to shooters across all battlespaces, at speed, and under threat. Maturing these concepts and capabilities is necessary to fight and win in the information age.”

The IDIQ contract with SES Space and Defense will enable the Air Force to leverage the extensive SES multi-orbit and multi-band fleet to experiment, develop, and test data and connectivity capabilities from satellites at Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO). The ability to leverage high-throughput satellites (HTS) at GEO and MEO will deliver fiber-like connectivity to the battlefield, while providing additional resiliency and redundancy to mission-critical satellite communications.

“As the need for technology and data on the battlefield increases, so does the need to access resilient and robust high-performance connectivity from anywhere in the world,” said President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (retired). “The growing amount of sensor data, connected devices, and cloud computing done remotely at the tactical edge demands high throughput, low-latency connectivity that only a multi-orbit satellite solution can provide. By having the potential opportunity to be awarded task orders against this IDIQ, we’re excited to enable technological advancement at ABMS and keep our military at the forefront of innovation.”

The selection of SES Space and Defense to power the ABMS will not only give the Air Force access to the industry’s only HTS satellite constellation at Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) in the SES O3b MEO constellation, it also gives the Air Force access to a trusted partner with a long history of working collaboratively with the DoD on innovative satellite projects and implementations.

“SES Space and Defense has an extensive history of testing and developing cutting-edge connectivity solutions for the U.S. Air Force and joint requirements,” said Jim Hooper, Chief Commercial Officer of SES Space and Defense. “Opportunities like ABMS allows the Air Force to enhance their capabilities, but also for us to evolve our capabilities alongside. We want to make sure that every mission can access the full potential of our unique position in GEO and MEO, especially as we unlock more cloud computing and mobility connectivity solutions with the launch of our O3b mPOWER constellation.”

For additional information about the ABMS and the recent IDIQ contract awarded to SES Space and Defense, click HERE to read the official press release.

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Army Maj. Gen. Peter Gallagher, director of the network cross-functional team for Army Futures Command, said the service is looking for high-capacity network backbone services as part of Capability Set 23, the next technology on-ramp in its incremental modernization strategy.

“And that seems like mid Earth orbit satellite constellations and low Earth orbit satellite constellations, which give us significantly more bandwidth and lower latency, and in some cases, it’s almost like having fiber-optic cable through a space-based satellite link,” Gallagher said during the recent 2020 C4ISRNET conference.

The Army’s network modernization strategy is being carried out in two-year increments, called Capability Sets, through 2028. For each increment, the Army identifies specific technologies for experimentation, the results of which inform equipment-buying decisions.

The first technology infusion, Capability Set 21, primarily features lightweight equipment including tactical radios, commercial 4G technologies, drone-mounted antennas, and satellite terminals. Those technologies are undergoing testing now, although the Army has had to make some schedule adjustments due to the coronavirus outbreak, Gallagher said.

For Capability Set 23, the Army will experiment with emerging technologies that can be applied on a much broader scale to provide a common operating picture of the battlefield. “Some of that is not ready yet, but it is a technology that we are planning to prototype with over the next year … at this time next year we’ll be conducting the preliminary design review of Capability Set 23,” Gallagher said.

Several companies have proposed large constellations of broadband satellites in low Earth orbit, and two of these are in the early stages of deployment. In contrast, SES already operates a 20-satellite broadband constellation in medium Earth orbit called O3b MEO.

The DoD has traditionally relied on communications services from geostationary-orbiting satellites whose high altitude, 36,000 kilometers above the equator, introduces signal transmission delays that can adversely impact certain applications. O3b MEO, whose satellites orbit roughly at 8,000 kilometers, delivers data at fiber-like speeds to anywhere on the globe with minimal latency.

In an article published in October on the Army’s official website, Gallagher hinted at the value of low-latency services. “We wish to determine how [low and medium Earth orbit satellites] will fit into the network backbone design to provide high capacity and low latency throughput, which would enable the Army to leverage cloud and edge computing,” he said.

High latency also imposes limitations on the operation of unpiloted aerial vehicles from U.S.-based control centers, and hinders the military’s response time in a variety of scenarios, including attacks with hypersonic weapons, experts say.

According to Pete Hoene, President & CEO at SES Space and Defense, the latency associated with O3b MEO is nominally 125 milliseconds roundtrip, compared to 500 milliseconds from a geostationary satellite system.

In 2018, the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a Blanket Purchase Agreement with a ceiling of $516.7 million with SES Space and Defense for access to O3b MEO services through April 2023. This contract follows several previous DoD contracts for O3b MEO services, including a 2016 arrangement that enabled U.S. forces to rapidly backhaul large files of battlefield intelligence information to exploitation centers.

The capability of SES’s medium Earth orbit constellation will increase significantly in 2022 when their next-generation O3b mPOWER satellites become operational. Each O3b mPOWER satellite will provide high throughput, low-latency connectivity through shapeable and dynamically reconfigurable beams that can support an array of applications including data-intensive ISR missions or comms-on-the-move applications.

“O3b MEO capabilities have already proven to be a tried and trusted tool for the U.S. military,” said Hoene. “Our next-generation O3b mPOWER constellation will include an order of magnitude improvement in number of beams and throughput, making them ideal candidates to satisfy US Government high throughput, low latency requirements. It’s a connectivity solution designed to adapt to the needs of our warfighters’ missions and keep our troops connected to the intelligence they need at the tactical edge.”

According to Gallagher, the Army already is working with prospective Capability Set 23 technology providers.  The service held a technical interchange in November that attracted 672 participants, which was followed by a call for white papers that helped narrow down the field of technologies, he said.

“We conducted a shark tank in March and we’re working through the statements of work right now with some of the vendors that have been selected,” Gallagher said. “…Hopefully, we’ll have all those contracts let no later than July.”

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