Support Equipment

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

MUOS is a U.S. narrowband military satellite communications system built by Lockheed Martin Space for mobile forces. Its five-satellite geosynchronous constellation uses a UHF WCDMA waveform to deliver beyond-line-of-sight voice, data, and mission traffic while preserving interoperability with legacy UHF terminals.

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Lockheed Martin Space
Type
Narrowband military satellite communications system
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Designed
2004
Unit cost
Initial contract: $2.1 billion; total potential value for five satellites: $3.26 billion
Produced
2004-2016 initial constellation
Number built
5 satellites
Variants
MUOS-1, MUOS-2, MUOS-3, MUOS-4, MUOS-5
Developed from
Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) SATCOM system

Also Known As

  • MUOS
  • Mobile User Objective System
communicationssatcomspaceuhfwcdma

Specifications

System type
Narrowband military satellite communications system
Constellation
Five satellites total: four operational plus one on-orbit spare
Band
UHF
Waveform
WCDMA (3G-derived)
Capacity
About 10x the communications capacity of the legacy UHF SATCOM system
Connectivity
Voice, data, video, and mission traffic beyond line of sight
Compatibility
Interoperates with legacy UHF terminals

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Declared ready for full operational use in 2019, with a later service-life extension program intended to keep MUOS available into the 2030s.
Used by
United States Department of Defense, Canada Department of National Defence
Wars
Various Conflicts

Conflict Usage

Side
🏳️Unspecified

Exact model: Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite communications system. It supports military communications, but I found no public source tying the system itself to a specific conflict use as a weapon system.

Timeline

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Key Events

  1. Lockheed Martin-led MUOS team announced

    Lockheed Martin announced a team to build MUOS for the U.S. Navy, describing it as an advanced narrowband tactical satellite communications system based on 3G-style cellular technology.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin MUOS contract announcement

  2. MUOS-1 launched

    The U.S. Space Force's 45th Space Wing supported the Atlas V launch of MUOS-1 from Cape Canaveral, beginning on-orbit deployment of the constellation.

    Sources: 45th Space Wing MUOS-1 launch

  3. Navy declared MUOS ready for full operational use

    Navy reporting on the system's testing and evaluation said MUOS had completed the key test phase and was ready for unrestricted operational use.

    Sources: Navy MUOS full operational use

  4. Canada successfully accessed MUOS

    Space Systems Command reported that Canada became the first partner nation to successfully access the MUOS narrowband global SATCOM system.

    Sources: MUOS Canada demonstration

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Images

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Sources