The U.S. Department of State has approved Canada’s request to access the Lockheed Martin-built Mobile User Objective Systems for $138 million to provide Canadian armed forces with satellite connectivity on the battlefield.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said General Dynamics is the prime contractor for the potential foreign military sale.
General Dynamics, which provided the ground segments for MUOS, is currently under a $732 million contract with the U.S. Navy to deliver ground system sustainment services for the five-satellite constellation, which includes one orbiting spare, Defense Daily reported.
The DCSA said MUOS, designed to provide UHF satellite communications, will improve Canada’s military capability and boost joint operations with the NATO ally and NORAD partner.
Lockheed equipped the MUOS satellites with a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access payload built to provide 10 times the communications capacity of legacy UHF satellite systems, enabling clear voice communications and high-speed video and data transfers.
Approval for the proposed sale follows a MUOS demonstration with the Canadian Department of National Defence in November. In partnership with the U.S. Navy and Space Force teams, the department performed voice and data transmission using AN/PRC-117G terminals from two locations in Ottawa, Space Systems Command said.
According to The Defense Post, another demonstration is expected in the coming weeks.