EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The first of two Boeing-made Wideband Global SATCOM satellites launched this year completed on-orbit testing and is now being operated by the U.S. Air Force.
WGS-5 provides protected wideband communications to users anywhere in its field of view.
"The WGS mission is a force multiplier for the Department of Defense, U.S. government agencies, and our allied partners," said USAF Lt. Col. Karen Roe, commander, 53rd Signal Battalion. "We are so pleased to have this capability across our formation and thank the Boeing team for their dedication to excellence."
"WGS-5 addresses a critical need of the Defense Department by increasing capacity and enhancing global coverage, supporting warfighters with communications bandwidth when they need it," added Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.
WGS-6 is in orbit and is scheduled to complete its handover to the Air Force later this year.
Additional details of the testing of the satellite were not provided.
