Canada Connects To USAF Through AEHF Satellite

June 26, 2013

Canada has successfully begun testing military communications over an Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite system, which provides users with data rates up to five times faster than earlier secure satellite systems.

Iliza Sokol

The United States Air Force (USAF) has begun allowing select groups to communicate through Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite systems, with Canada being the first international partner. The AEHF system provides highly secure communications capabilities for strategic command and tactical warfighters. A single AEHF satellite provides users with data rates as much as five times faster than other satellite systems, allowing for the transmission of data including real-time video, battlefield maps, targeting data, and presidential conferencing in all levels of conflict.

The US-Canada team successfully connected by means of the Lockheed Martin-produced AEHF-1 satellite using a SMART-T terminal near Ottawa, Canada. Data was exchanged with the Air Force’s 4^thSpace Operations Squadron in Colorado using multiple Navy Multi-Band IP variant terminals over AEHF networks.

Canada will continue to test communications by means of the AEHF system for several months, with the Netherlands and the United Kingdom expected to complete their first terminal connections by the end of 2013.

About the Author

Iliza Sokol | Associate Digital Editor

Iliza joined the Penton Media group in 2013 after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BS in Advertising and Marketing Communications. Prior to joining the staff, she worked at NYLON Magazine and a ghostwriting firm based in New York.