Miramar, California. (December 3, 2023): In its ongoing efforts to improve communication between units, the Marines have harnessed satellites to serve mobile aerial and maritime platforms, ground vehicles, and dismounted soldiers. In this photo by Corporal Daniel Childs, Captain Akerin Lab with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing demonstrates the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), a satellite-based system to deliver global narrowband connectivity to troops on land and sea. The MUOS relies on a constellation of five satellites to enhance long-range, rapid communication between Marine units to expand their operational reach around the globe.

Developed by the Navy’s Office for Space Systems in conjunction with Lockheed Martin, the MUOS replaces the slower and less mobile 1990s-era Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) satellite communication system. The new system is designed for mobile users and can transmit voice, data, and video communications at higher data rates and greater distances than previous systems. For example, the MUOS has extended communications as far as the North Pole which is the most northern reach of any geosynchronous satellite system in history.

For the Marine on the ground, the MUOS system provides rapid, effective communication no matter where they are fighting, a capability that will save lives.