Article Posted on : - Jan 06, 2010

An artist's conception of the WGS satellite in orbit. Image credit: Boeing

DENVER (BNS): The United Launch Alliance will launch the Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite for the US Air Force over the next two years.

The satellite, expected to be launched between December 2011 and February 2012 on board a Delta IV rocket, will be the fourth satellite in the WGS system and the first in Block II series, ULA said.

It will join the existing constellation of WGS-1, 2 and 3 satellites to enhance information broadcast capabilities.

The WGS system performs Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions for American troops.

While WGS-1 and WGS-2 satellites were launched on board the Atlas V rockets in 2007 and 2009 respectively, WGS-3 was launched on a Delta IV rocket in 2009.

All the previous launches were carried out by ULA.