The Advanced Extremely High-Frequency (AEHF) system is a series of six military communication satellites planned to replace the currently in-orbit Milstar system.

先进超高频（AEHF）系统是一系列六颗军事通信卫星，计划取代目前在轨的“军事星”（Milstar）系统。

 

Type

Military communication satellites

类型

军用通信卫星

 

Launch Date

AEHF 1: August 2010, AEHF 2: May 2012, AEHF-3: September 2013, AEHF-4: October 2018

发射日期

AEHF 1：2010年8月，AEHF 2：2012年5月，AEHF-3：2013年9月，AE高频-4：2018年10月

 

Manufacturer

Lockheed Martin Space Systems

制造商

洛克希德·马丁航天系统公司

 

Operator

United States Air Force (USAF)

操作人员

美国空军

 

Lifespan

14 years

寿命

14年

 

 

 

The Advanced Extremely High-Frequency (AEHF) system is a series of six military communication satellites, which supplement the legacy five-satellite Milstar constellation system. It provides extremely high-frequency (EHF) range uplink / crosslink capabilities and super high-frequency (SHF) range communications.

先进超高频（AEHF）系统是由六颗军用通信卫星组成的系列，是对传统的五颗卫星“军事星”（Milstar）星座系统的补充。它提供超高频（EHF）范围上行链路/交联能力和超高频（SHF）范围通信。

 

AEHF is part of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing’s protected satellite communications (SATCOM) group. It is operated by the Air Force Space Command of the US Air Force. The main function of the AEHF spacecraft in geostationary orbit is to provide secure, survivable and near-worldwide satellite communications. It also delivers military communications and jointly serves the armed forces of the US and international partners including the Netherlands, the UK and Canada. Satellites are more jam-resistant, secure, survivable and protected, offering global communications for sea, ground and air force assets.

AEHF是军事卫星通信系统联队的受保护卫星通信（SATCOM）小组的一部分。它由美国空军太空司令部操作。AEHF航天器在地球静止轨道上的主要功能是提供安全、可生存和近世界范围的卫星通信。它还提供军事通信，并联合为美国和包括荷兰、英国和加拿大在内的国际伙伴的武装部队服务。卫星更具抗干扰性、安全性、生存能力和保护性，为海上、地面和空军资产提供全球通信。

 

AEHF supports a wide spectrum of missions, such as strategic nuclear and defence operations, special operations, theatre missile defence, space operations and intelligence. The AEHF programme was started in 1999 and the development began in 2001. It achieved initial operational capability in July 2018 and all six satellites are in the orbit by March 2020.

AEHF支持广泛的任务，如战略核武器和国防行动、特种作战、战区导弹防御、太空作战和情报。AEHF计划于1999年启动，开发工作于2001年开始。它于2018年7月实现了初步运行能力，到2020年3月，所有六颗卫星都已进入轨道。

 

Operational capabilities of the USAF’s satellite system

美国空军卫星系统的作战能力

 

AEHF satellites are designed based on the A2100 satellite bus and are powered by hall current thruster electric propulsion. The thrusters control orbital eccentricity of the satellite during its repositioning. The satellite had a mass of 6,168kg at launch.

AEHF卫星是基于A2100卫星总线设计，并由霍尔电流推进器的电力推进提供动力。推进器在卫星重新定位时控制着卫星的轨道偏心率。这颗卫星在发射时的质量为6,168公斤。

 

Capabilities of AEHF have been improved over the Milstar satellite system, as well as the MILSATCOM architecture. The throughput of the AEHF is ten times higher than that of the Milstar satellites. AEHF also has substantially increased coverage area, providing connectivity across naval, air and land mission warfare.

AEHF的能力已经比“军事星”卫星系统以及军事卫星通信( MILSATCOM)体系结构得到了改进。AEHF的吞吐量是“军事星”卫星的十倍。AEHF还大幅增加了覆盖范围，为海军、空军和陆地任务战提供了连接。

 

The AEHF system consists of satellites in space, user terminals and ground-mission control and associated communication network systems. The six satellites are linked to form a constellation and provide continuous coverage from 65° south to 65° north latitude for 24 hours a day.

AEHF系统由太空卫星、用户终端和地面任务控制以及相关的通信网络系统组成。这六颗卫星连接成一个星座，每天24小时提供从南65°到北纬65°的连续覆盖。

 

Mission control segment

任务控制部分

 

Mobile and fixed control stations make up the highly survivable mission control segment. It handles the satellites in orbit, monitors satellite health and provides monitoring and planning of operations.

移动和固定控制站构成了具有高度生存能力的任务控制部分。它处理轨道上的卫星，监测卫星健康状况，并提供运行监测和规划。

 

The terminal segment is a network of both fixed and ground mobile, airborne, ship and submarine and other terminals of all the international partners. Only the air force terminal and space and ground segments are acquired by SATCOM. These three segments enable communications and transfer of data at specified rates ranging from 75bps to about 8Mbps.

终端部分是所有国际合作伙伴的固定和地面移动、机载、船舶和潜艇以及其他终端的网络。卫星通信仅获取空军终端以及空间和地面部分。这三个段能够以75bps至约8Mbps的指定速率进行通信和数据传输。

 

Payloads of the AEHF satellites

AEHF卫星的有效载荷

 

The AEHF communication satellite’s anti-jam payload includes onboard signal processing, radio frequency equipment, crossbanded EHF/SHF communication antennas, routing and control software and hardware integral to the A2100 space vehicle.

AEHF通信卫星的抗干扰有效载荷包括机载信号处理、射频设备、交叉EHF/SHF通信天线、路由和控制软件以及A2100太空飞行器不可或缺的硬件。

 

It consists of two uplink/downlink antennas, two SHF downlink phased arrays, two crosslinks, one uplink EHF phased array, uplink/downlink earth coverage horns, and six uplink downlink gimballed dish antennas.

它由两个上行链路/下行链路天线、两个SHF下行链路相控阵、两个交叉链路、一个上行链路EHF相控阵、上行链路/下行链路地球覆盖角和六个上行链路-下行链路万向节碟形天线组成。

 

The payload controls the SHF downlink and crosslink functions, EHF uplinks, beam forming and onboard nulling. It also controls signal processing, time and frequency for extremely high, medium and low data rates of operation.

有效载荷控制SHF下行链路和交联功能、EHF上行链路、波束形成和机载调零。它还控制信号处理，时间和频率的极高，中和低数据率的操作。

 

The AEHF constellation is more efficient and capable than the older five Milstar satellites. In-orbit processing and reconfigurable networks allow interoperability and dynamic command and control requirements.

AEHF星座比旧的五颗“军事星”卫星更有效率和能力。在轨处理和可重构网络允许互操作性和动态指挥控制要求。

 

Antenna beams from the satellite are electronically steerable and mappings can be made from channel to beam to achieve the required transmission capacity. Satellites can be crosslinked for enabling communications across the globe from different ground gateways.

来自卫星的天线波束是可电子控制的，并且可以从信道到波束进行映射，以实现所需的传输容量。卫星可以交叉连接，以便从不同的地面网关实现全球通信。

 

Advantages of the tactical communication system are small and mobile terminals, dynamic routing and low detection probability. It provides tactical military communications, including maps and real-time videos of the battlefield. The satellites also offer other critical survivable, endurable and protected communications and address cyber threats.

战术通信系统的优点是移动终端小，路由动态，检测概率低。它提供战术军事通信，包括地图和战场实时视频。这些卫星还提供其他关键的可生存、耐用和受保护的通信，并应对网络威胁。

 

Launching the military communication satellites

发射军用通信卫星

 

The first satellite, AEHF-1, was scheduled to launch in 2007. However, it was delayed due to difficulties such as key cryptographic requirements. It was finally launched by United Launch Alliance (ULA) from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in August 2010.

第一颗卫星AEHF-1计划于2007年发射。然而，由于诸如密钥加密需求等困难，它被推迟了。它最终由联合发射联盟（ULA）于2010年8月在卡纳维拉尔角空军基地的41号太空发射场发射升空。

 

The satellite was launched using the Atlas V 531 carrier under the project name USA-214 (AEHF SV-1). It was deployed into the geosynchronous transfer orbit. The first two launch attempts were, however, unsuccessful due to malfunctioning of liquid apogee engine motor.

该卫星使用Atlas V 531航母发射，项目名称为USA-214（AEHF SV-1）。它被部署到地球同步运行轨道上。然而，由于液体远地点助推发动机故障，前两次发射都没有成功。

 

The second AEHF was launched from the base onboard a ULA Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 531 in May 2012. An RD Amross RD-180 engine powered the Atlas Booster.

2012年5月，第二架AEHF搭载ULA Atlas V改进型一次性使用运载火箭(EELV)531从基地发射。一台RD Amross RD-180发动机为Atlas助推器提供动力。

 

Centaur upper stage was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10A engine. It was launched successfully at the second attempt after the first one failed because of an overtemp condition on the Centaur Interstage Adapter purge.

“半人马座”上一级由普惠火箭发动机RL10A提供动力。在第一次尝试失败后，它在第二次尝试中成功发射，原因是“半人马座”级间适配器排放的温度过高。

 

AEHF-3 was launched aboard the Atlas V vehicle in September 2013, followed by launch of AEHF-4 aboard Atlas V launch vehicle in October 2018.

AEHF-3于2013年9月搭载阿特拉斯五号运载火箭发射，随后AEHF-4于2018年10月搭载阿特拉斯五号运载火箭升空。

 

The AEHF-5 was launched in August 2019 following the completion of thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) and acoustic testing in May 2018. The final satellite AEHF-6 was launched in March 2020. Both the satellites were launched aboard Atlas V 551 vehicle.

继2018年5月完成热真空室（TVAC）和声学测试后，AEHF-5于2019年8月发射。最后一颗卫星AEHF-6于2020年3月发射。这两颗卫星都是在Atlas V 551运载火箭上发射的。

 

A combined team of U.S. Air Force personnel and civilian ground support specialists load an Advanced Extremely High Frequency-4 communication satellite onto a Travis Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy, July 26, 2018, at Moffett Federal Airfield, Cailf. The satellite was being transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The AEHF is a joint service communications satellite and provides global, secure, protected, survivable and jam-resistant communications for high-priority military ground, sea and air assets. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Heide Couch）

2018年7月26日，在莫菲特联邦机场，一个由美国空军人员和民用地面支持专家组成的联合团队将一颗先进的超高频-4通信卫星装载到特拉维斯空军基地C-5M“超级银河”上。这颗卫星正在被运送到佛罗里达州卡纳维拉尔角空军基地。AEHF是一颗联合服务通信卫星，为高优先级的军事地面、海基和空中资产提供全球、安全、受保护、可生存和抗干扰的通信。(美国空军照片由海德沙发拍摄）

 

An Atlas V AEHF-6 rocket successfully launches from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 26, 2020. The launch of the AEHF-6, a sophisticated communications relay satellite, is the first Department of Defense payload launched for the United States Space Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua Conti）

2020年3月26日，一枚阿特拉斯V AEHF-6火箭在佛罗里达州卡纳维拉尔角空军基地的41号太空发射中心成功发射。AEHF-6是一颗复杂的通信中继卫星，这是美国国防部为美国太空部队发射的第一个有效载荷。(美国空军的照片，由约书亚·康蒂拍摄）

 

Contractors for the US’s AEHF constellation programme

美国AEHF星座计划的承包商

 

Lockheed Martin Space Systems was responsible for the space and ground segments of the AEHF satellites, including mission controls and system integration. Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems supplied the payload. The project was led by the US Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center, at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California.

洛克希德·马丁空间系统公司负责AEHF卫星的空间和地面部分，包括任务控制和系统集成。诺斯罗普·格鲁曼航空航天系统公司提供了有效载荷。该项目由位于加州洛杉矶空军基地的空间和导弹系统中心的美国空军军事卫星通信系统联队领导。

 

Vanguard Space Technologies was subcontracted to fabricate and test two spacecraft bus structures of the satellites.

先锋空间技术公司分包制造和测试这些卫星的两个航天器总线结构。