Lockheed Martin announced today that it has successfully mated the spacecraft core structure and the payload module for the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite.

The U.S. Air Force's AEHF system will provide global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving under the U.S. Department of Defense.

Based on Lockheed Martin's flight-proven A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series the AEHF core structure contains the integrated propulsion system as well as panels and other components that serve as the structural foundation of the satellite.

The payload module consists of the complete set of processing, routing and control hardware and software that perform the satellite's communications function, including critical features to protect the communications against interception or jamming threats.

With the successful mate of the second AEHF satellite, the team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., the Advanced EHF prime contractor, and Northrop Grumman Space Technology, Redondo Beach, Calif., the payload supplier, will begin system level environmental and acceptance testing of the fully integrated space vehicle in preparation for launch in early 2010.

"This marks a major event toward the delivery of this critical national security program," said Leonard Kwiatkowski, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of Global Communications Systems. "AEHF will speed the flow of information to the warfighter, delivering protected satellite communications with assured connectivity and we look forward to achieving mission success for our customer."

One AEHF satellite will provide greater total capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently on-orbit. Individual user data rates will be five times improved. The higher data rates will permit transmission of tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. In addition to its tactical mission, AEHF will also provide the critical survivable, protected, and endurable communications to the National Command Authority including presidential conferencing in all levels of conflict.

Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to provide three Advanced EHF satellites and the Mission Control Segment to its customer, the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, located at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. The program is in the early stages of adding a fourth spacecraft to the planned constellation.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin