NG delivers 2nd AEHF com-sat payload to LM

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., March 7 (UPI) -- U.S. company Northrop Grumman has delivered the payload module for a second military com-sat to Lockheed Martin.

Northrop Grumman said in a statement Tuesday that it had delivered "the payload module for the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency -- EHF -- military communications satellite ahead of schedule to the Sunnyvale, Calif., facilities of Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Advanced EHF program."

"Delivery of this second payload module follows one year after the first payload module delivery, which was also delivered ahead of schedule," Northrop Grumman said.

"During the next few months, Lockheed Martin will begin integrating the payload module with its A2100 satellite bus and other space vehicle components, followed by environmental and acceptance testing of the fully integrated space vehicle in preparation for launch in 2009," Northrop Grumman said.

"One AEHF Satellite will provide greater total capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently on-orbit. Individual user data rates will be five times improved. The higher data rates will permit transmission of tactical military communication such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data," the company said.

"In addition to it critical tactical mission, AEHF will also provide the critical survivable, protected, and endurable communications to National Command Authority including presidential conferencing in all levels of conflict," it said.

"Northrop Grumman has built our expertise in developing protected military satellite communications systems through decades of experience evolving these unique capabilities," said Alexis Livanos, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of the company's Space Technology sector.

"The consistent early delivery of Advanced EHF payloads is a testament to the experience of our team and the effectiveness of our processes in developing these very complex communication systems," Livanos said.