Boeing delivers satellite to Air Force

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The fourth Wide-band Global SATCOM satellite for U.S. military and government communications has been delivered to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Boeing said its spacecraft will undergo final pre-launch preparations at Cape Canaveral before it is launched in January and joins three others in orbit.

"New airborne surveillance platforms are driving a need for higher data rates and the upgrades on WGS-4 are designed specifically to meet these emerging requirements," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems.

The satellite delivered is the first Block II WGS satellite, which features upgrades such as a switchable radio frequency bypass that supports the transmission of airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance imagery at data rates that are about three times faster than currently available.

Boeing said the WSG satellites operate over the Middle East, Pacific and Atlantic regions.

WSGs satellites use xenon-ion propulsion, deployable thermal radiators and advanced triple-junction gallium-arsenide solar arrays.