U.S. Navy accepts three MUOS ground stations from General Dynamics
NewsJanuary 23, 2014
SCOTTSDALE, AZ. The U.S. Navy has accepted three ground stations built by General Dynamics C4 Systems for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) located in Hawaii, Virginia, and Australia. These ground stations provide communications and control interfaces among the MUOS satellites.
These stations mimic cell phone switches, and are able to receive radio calls relayed through MUOS satellites from around the globe. They then connect these calls to ground-based Department of Defense (DoD) communication networks. In addition, these ground stations assist in the operation and management of the orbiting MUOS satellites.
Chris Marzilli, President of General Dynamics, says: “General Dynamics' expertise in delivering networks that securely and reliably connect military and government personnel with their commanders and others from virtually any location on the planet…all they will need is to dial a 10-digit phone number just like they have with their personal cell phones."
Each of the three ground stations has three freestanding 18.4-meter Ka-band antennas atop 53-foot-tall pedestals. A centralized operations and control center manages the ground stations' operation, providing Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, network management, switching facilities, among other satellite command-and-control elements.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the MUOS system, and U.S. Navy personnel will now operate the ground stations.
For more information, visit www.generaldynamics.com.
