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New satellite system launch delayed by 6 years

The Air Force announced Tuesday that it will restructure the Transformational Satellite Communications System program, delaying by six years a satellite system designed to dramatically expand the military’s bandwidth.

The service will release a new draft of its request for proposals later this week, according to an Air Force press release.

The first TSAT satellite, which had been scheduled to launch in 2013, will now not launch until 2019, according to the press release.

The Pentagon had already decided in October to delay a contract award until the new administration takes over, but Tuesday’s announcement signals the department is taking a fresh look at the whole program.

Under the restructured program, the initial increment of TSAT will consist of five block 10 satellites and associated ground control systems with a first launch by 2019, according to the press release. The capabilities requested in the RFP coming out later this week include internet protocol routing for network management and new ways to communicate with deployed forces.

The TSAT system is designed to provide 100 times the bandwidth of the military’s current communication satellites, called MILSTAR. It will also be able to move classified and unclassified information with the same hardware.