The US Army has chosen Kymeta’s Osprey u8 terminal as its multi-orbit satellite communications system for the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) pilot program.
The NGC2 initiative aims to modernize the army’s command and control infrastructure by integrating advanced technologies to enhance operational effectiveness.
Kymeta’s Osprey u8 connects to both geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites. It is designed for rapid deployment and flexible use, featuring a modular architecture that can be reconfigured for different missions. Its smart tracking capability maintains stable connectivity in challenging environments.
The decision to adopt the technology follows successful evaluations in several major army exercises, including Armored Formation Network On The Move, the Network Modernization Experiment, and Project Convergence Capstone.
Kymeta Chief Revenue Officer Tom Jackson, a retired US Marine lieutenant colonel, said that the company’s manufacturing approach is “the exact type of innovation the US Army is looking for when it seeks new technologies from the commercial market to integrate into its existing capabilities.”
US Accelerates Multi-Orbit SATCOM Integration
The US is accelerating the integration of multi-orbit satellite communications (SATCOM) to improve flexibility, resilience, and operational reach to increase flexibility, resilience, and operational reach in contested environments.
One major example of this shift is the US Space Force’s $2.8-billion contract with Boeing to develop the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications system. The program is designed to modernize and secure strategic communication networks, including critical support for nuclear command and control.
The US also plans to launch 133 additional satellites over the next nine months to help complete its network linking sensors with shooters.