Sixth AEHF Protected Communications Satellite from Lockheed Martin

The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) protected communications satellite successfully completed its On-Orbit Test (OOT) period on 27 August, the company announced on 15 September.

“Successful OOT demonstrates that all space vehicle performance requirements have been met and that we are on track for satellite control authority handover to Space Operations Command before the end of the year,” commented Erik Daehler, Director of Lockheed Martin’s Protected Communications mission area.

AEHF-6 will be part of a geostationary ring of ten satellites in the AEHF-MILSTAR constellation delivering global coverage for survivable, highly secure and protected communications for strategic command and tactical units operating on ground, sea and air platforms. The satellite adds increased resilience and advanced capabilities to this constellation, which ensures the ability to transmit data anywhere, anytime. Besides US forces, the AEHF system also serves international partners Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

AEHF-6 was launched in March and marked the first mission launch for the US Space Force. As prime contractor, Lockheed Martin Space has developed and manufactured all six AEHF satellites at its Sunnyvale, CA facilities. The AEHF team is led by the Production Corps, Geosynchronous Earth Orbit/Polar Division, at the US Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, at Los Angeles AFB, CA.