Boeing is engaged in an array of unique transformational space activities.

Key Boeing programs include a complex range of network-centric operations infrastructure, focusing on a ”high ground” perspective, to building the military’s next generation communications and navigation satellites.

“As we pursue the high ground, we must consider that future warfare will be dominated by the control of information,” said George Muellner, Boeing Air Force Systems senior vice president and general manager. He added that a successful communications, command-and-control, and decision-making environment will depend on the exploitation of knowledge, and the speed of action based on that knowledge.

2004 began with a go-ahead to proceed with a Global Positioning System (GPS) III Phase A study, a contract award for the Transformational SATCOM Space Segment and with the Space Based Space Surveillance system Pathfinder award.

“I consider these programs top priorities, as they provide us with the opportunity to support the government’s transformational vision,” said John Fuller, vice president of Air Force Space Systems.

Boeing is currently under Air Force contract to build six GPS Block IIF satellites, with a potential for up to 16. Designed for flexibility and growth, these satellites will provide new capabilities, including improved accuracy, anti-jam capabilities, increased service life, new signals for civilian users, and secure operational military codes for the warfighter. The first GPS IIF is slated to be launched in early 2006 on an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle.

Boeing’s GPS III global team is currently performing a comprehensive 24-month Systems Requirement Review Phase A study to assess mission needs, requirements, and evaluate innovative architecture recommendations. The Boeing team is one of two competing industry teams awarded a contract to perform the study.

“Although we’re building GPS satellites, our expertise extends to other areas of the system,” said Fuller. He added that as the prime contractor, they invested heavily in the Control Segment, and in December 2003 they dedicated a new 27,000 sq. ft. Boeing GPS Center in Colorado Springs, to support the Air Force’s satellite navigation network. This critical Control Segment develops, integrates, tests and sustains the software/hardware, and maintains the GPS constellation 24/7.

The Wideband Gapfiller Satellite program is designed to offset a portion of the ever growing shortfalls in available bandwidth for military communications. The multi-spacecraft Wideband Gapfiller Satellite constellation is part of the Department of Defense’s Transformational Communications Architecture, and will provide significantly improved wideband communications to support America's warfighters.

Boeing is under Air Force contract to build three satellites, and associated ground-based control systems -- with a possible procurement of at least two additional to fulfill the Department of Defense’s architecture requirement. Based on the BSS 702-model satellite bus, a single Wideband Gapfiller Satellite spacecraft will have approximately twice the wideband communications throughout capacity of the entire current Defense Satellite Communications System constellation.

With a first launch in late 2005, Wideband Gapfiller Satellite will provide greatly increased communications capacity coverage, and operational flexibility, and will alleviate severe bandwidth short falls while reducing reliance on costly commercial satellite services.

With a vision of “Making the Net Work,” the Boeing Transformational SATCOM Space Segment team has been conducting risk reduction and system definition for Transformational SATCOM Space Segment and completed a successful Systems Requirement Review in May 2004. This on-going study phase will continue through 2006, with government plans calling for a 2007 down-selection to a single contractor to proceed with development. First launch is planned for early in the next decade.

The Transformational SATCOM Space Segment will be a revolutionary leap beyond existing SATCOM systems. Excellent progress is being made to demonstrate critical technology maturation for this secure, high-capacity global communications network, with an overall goal to support the network-centric operations vision of the Department of Defense, NASA and the intelligence community.

As a survivable jam-resistant, and protected MIL SATCOM system, Transformational SATCOM Space Segment will incorporate laser communications to create high-band-width spacecraft-to-spacecraft links, as well as links to Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms. Space Based Space Surveillance is considered an essential element of developing a space situational awareness capability.

In March 2004, a Boeing best-of-industry team won a contract to develop and initially operate the Space Based Space Surveillance Pathfinder satellite. Boeing is leveraging its expertise in surveillance mission systems and its space situational awareness legacy, as the satellite development, ground segment, and launch services requirements are executed.

The team will also be responsible for mission planning, mission data processing and operation of the system for up to one year, prior to transitioning it to the Air Force customer.

When fully operational, Space Based Space Surveillance will consist of a small constellation of satellites that will detect and track orbiting space objects, including potential threats to space assets. Slated for launch by late 2007, the Department of Defense will utilize data generated by the Space Based Space Surveillance system to support military operations.