The U.S. Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite communications network
has achieved its first ever secure data and voice call by way of an
orbiting satellite and ground stations. This achievement will enable
military satellite radios, which will become able to deliver secure
data communications while on the move.
Older
military satellite communications systems used stationary terminals
that need to be in the open to track satellites. These terminals are
understandably unsuited for on the move missions.
Things
are changing, of course, following a recent test of the MUOS
end-to-end system. A pair of General Dynamics AN/PRC-155 Manpack
satellite radios successfully used the MUOS satellite communications
network for a secure radio-to-radio voice and data “call.” One of
the radios transmitted voice and data communications through a MUOS
satellite, to the MUOS ground station, back through the satellite,
and to the second radio.
According
to Lockheed Martin, there are over 20,000 existing satellite radio
terminals currently in service, including the ManPack radio system.
The mobile users amongst these can look forward to solutions from the
MUOS satellite communications network that will ensure the secure
delivery of their data, video, and voice transmissions.