Space News reports that the U.S. Space Force “will use funds that Congress added to the 2023 defense budget to buy a wideband communications satellite made by” The Boeing Company, “a spokesperson confirmed Feb. 7.” The new geostationary satellite, to be named WGS-12, “will be the 12th of the Wideband Global Satcom constellation that provides communications services to the U.S. military and allies.” The Space Force “did not request funding for a wideband satellite in the 2023 budget[,] but Congress nevertheless added $442 million, an action reminiscent of the 2018 defense appropriations bill when Congress inserted $600 million for WGS-11.” A Space Systems Command spokesperson said via email, “The $442 million was added to the WGS program element to procure a WGS-12, which will be a build-to-print of WGS-11.” The 2023 appropriations bill “did not specifically direct the Space Force to buy another WGS satellite[,] although it is implied.” The legislation directs the service to “procure a protected wideband satellite to provide resilient, jam resistant tactical communications to support warfighter needs.”
Full Story (Space News)
