The U.S. Airforce is Testing CubeSat’s for Connected Battlefields

The U.S. Airforce Research Laboratory (AFRL) is looking to benefit from a commercial internet connection through thousands of small satellites or CubeSat’s. The AFRL believes these commercial satellites could provide wider bandwidth and help protect against the emerging anti-satellite threats. The AFRL envisions its stealth aircraft sharing secure data over a commercial space internet like the one OneWeb is planning.

The Air Force is testing two experimental satellites launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Feb 22nd. The test will include mounting antennas on test aircraft in hopes of establishing a commercial internet connection says Lara Seligman of Aviation Week & Space Technology.

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The Air Force is finally catching on to a revolution in the commercial small satellite world. Feb. 22 SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying two experimental satellites from Vandenberg AFB, California, to test out technologies for a mega constellation of small satellites that would provide high-speed internet and other communications services directly to consumers, businesses and other subscribers. And SpaceX is just one of many commercial firms that are starting to experiment with such a service. OneWeb is scheduled to begin launching its 720-satellite broadband constellation later this year.

This revolution could have wide-ranging implications for an increasingly connected battlefield if the U.S. military can leverage the emerging capability. A commercial space-based internet comprising dozens if not hundreds of small satellites could potentially provide much wider bandwidth for information-sharing between platforms. And as potential adversaries develop increasingly sophisticated anti-satellite capabilities, it is also a more resilient solution than the current mix of large, dedicated military spacecraft.

Source: Aviation Week

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E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.