Bye-Bye TSAT

The following was posted by Nextgov's Bob Brewin.

The Air Force today killed off its over-budget and long delayed $16 billion Transformational Satellite Communications program, but promised a slimmed-down reincarnation minus some expensive and challenging technologies.

The Air Force said it canceled the ongoing TSAT contract competition between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and will issue a new request for proposals later this week for a satellite system capable of providing high speed communications to deployed forces via an Internet router in the sky, with first launch planned by 2019.

This economy version of TSAT will not initially feature laser cross links for communication between the five planned satellites or Ka-band transponders, which can transmit broadband data to an antenna the size of a beanie. Those will have to wait until an unspecified later date.

This decision proves no one in power really pays much attention to recommendations in reports by the Defense Science Board, which just last week said TSAT was "essential to enhancing military and intelligence operations."