WASHINGTON — The Canadian Department of National Defense became the primary international partner to access the U.S. Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite network, the U.S. Space Force announced Nov. 30.
MUOS, developed by the U.S. Navy, is used for voice, video and data transmissions over a narrowband network of satellites in geosynchronous orbit — 4 operational satellites and one on-orbit spare. The Navy in March 2023 handed over the system to the Space Force.
Canadian operators in an indication in October used MUOS for voice and data transmission using military tactical radios from two locations in Ottawa.
Canadian officers used secure military radios to make point-to-point calls, transfer files, and access group chat services on the network. The MUOS satellites, made by Lockheed Martin, operate within the ultra-high frequency band and use 3G cellular telephone technology to supply digital narrowband signals for mobile forces.
The project to permit Canada access to the MUOS network began 4 years ago when Canada initiated a foreign military sales agreement with the USA.
Demonstration called a hit
Canadian users showed they might push-to-talk and connect from one Canadian radio terminal to a different, Thomas Cesear, head of the MUOS integration lab, said in a news release.
“In addition they were capable of successfully accomplish other services like chat, file transfer, email, in addition to group calls,” he said.
One other demonstration is scheduled for March 2024, said Canada’s Department of National Defense project leader Scott Mackenzie.