The U.S. Air Force has examined the possibility of a new three-satellite constellation as part of an effort to meet the Defense Department’s future wideband communications requirements, Space News reported Tuesday.
Mike Gruss writes the three-satellite constellation remains an abstract idea for the Air Force at present and is in the early stages of discussion.
An Air Force spokesperson told the publication the Air Force is considering whether to incorporate the planned satellites into the Boeing-built Wideband Global Satcom system and whether to seek international partnerships to fund the program.
WGS consists of 10 satellites with seven on orbit and three others set for launch in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The service plans to finalize its decision on the constellation after the DoD concludes its wideband requirements study, Gruss reports.
