Army Completes Satellite as a Managed Service Research Project

December 1, 2024

Intelsat
McLean, VA
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www.intelsat.com

Intelsat has provided the U.S Army with new, flexible, and fully managed multi-orbit satellite communications (SATCOM) support, following the completion of the Army’s first-ever multi-vendor SATCOM as a Managed Service (SATaaMS) Pilot contract.

The SaTaaMS project was launched in early 2024, to help the Department of Defense (DoD) understand how it can optimize the way commercial satellite communications equipment and bandwidth is purchased to support unit readiness and unique missions in large-scale combat operations. Instead of the Army having to procure, field, sustain and modernize equipment on its own for every unit and every mission, SATaaMS could enable the Army to lease these capabilities at the point of need. This business model would be scalable to expand or contract as missions change, helping to reduce on-hand inventory, satellite airtime and cost.

The satellite and terrestrial network service provider’s solution for the Army included a terrestrial network, terminals and capacity. Intelsat’s solution includes Intelsat Flex services for geostationary (GEO) connections and provides commercial low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite service for a LEO option. Intelsat delivered worldwide coverage via leased satellite terminals and services with 24×7 support. The scope of the Army’s SATaaMS Pilot included end-to-end managed subscription services to support connections with commercial teleports and internet services.

As part of the 12-month trial, Intelsat and the Army conducted pilots at 10 global locations, and ensured that the Intelsat managed service and equipment was in use for nine months. The program was conducted in a wide range of conditions and terrain, including severe cold weather, high-humidity climates, as well as dry and wet conditions.

During the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) annual conference and exhibition in October, Col. Peter Atkinson, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, briefly discussed the Army’s experience with the project.

“It was absolutely a success on learning what the Army requirement needs are for next generation SATCOM and how to access that,” Atkinson said. “We took the information from the pilot, and then we scaled that to some of the next generation tactical terminals. We took the lessons learned from that pilot, and my team is now looking at how do we codify that as a requirement? So now we’re looking our requirements for SATCOM as a managed service and how we can leverage that.”

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