MUOS 6, 7

MUOS 6 [Boeing]

The U.S. Space Force has selected Boeing (United States) to build the next generation of the MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) military communications satellites (MUOS SEL Phase 1). Two spacecraft will be built on Boeing's BSS-702MP geostationary satellite platform under a contract valued at up to US$2 billion. The satellites are planned for launch in 2031 and 2032 and will succeed the current MUOS constellation, ensuring the continued availability of secure UHF narrowband communications for U.S. military users worldwide.

The new satellites will replace the current MUOS spacecraft and continue providing the U.S. military with secure narrowband communications worldwide. MUOS supports voice, data, and messaging services for ground forces, ships, aircraft, and special operations units. Operating in the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) band, the system provides reliable communications in environments where higher-frequency signals are degraded by foliage, urban structures, or adverse weather. Unlike the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) system, MUOS is optimized for users carrying relatively small terminals in remote or contested environments.

The satellites will be manufactured by Boeing using its flight-proven 702MP spacecraft platform. Introduced in 2009, the medium-power geostationary satellite bus has been used extensively for commercial communications satellites operated by companies such as Intelsat and Viasat, and has also been adapted for military missions including the WGS constellation. Boeing also developed and supplied the communications payloads carried aboard the existing five-satellite MUOS constellation, which was manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

The Boeing 702MP is a three-axis stabilized geostationary satellite platform designed for medium-power communications missions. It supports a wide range of communications payloads and provides long operational lifetimes in geostationary orbit. The platform has been used for both commercial and government satellite programs.

The two next-generation MUOS satellites are scheduled for launch in 2031 and 2032.