Space Systems/Loral designing Air Force satellite communications The U.S. Air Force's Next-generation Protected Military Satellite Communications program will be designed by Space Systems/Loral. PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force's Next-generation Protected Military Satellite Communications program will be designed by Space Systems/Loral. The company said the contract for design concepts was issued by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center but no contract timeline or value was given. "In today's cost-conscious environment, the objective of the SMC program is to develop practical new architectures and technologies that will protect increasingly contested and threatened high-security communications," the company said. Space Systems/Loral said that to fulfill the contract it and its industry partners will combine expertise and existing technologies from commercial developments with existing military technologies for both the space and ground-segment aspects of the military satellite communications program. "The protected MILSATCOM contract is an opportunity for SS/L to continue its efforts to serve the U.S. government with cost-effective solutions based on commercial market innovation," said SS/L President John Celli. Working with our industry partners, we will use domain expertise, proven military technology, and our supply chain efficiencies to quickly bring increased capability to the warfighter. Space Systems/Loral was a subsidiary of Loral Space and Communications. MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates of Canada on Friday announced it had completed its acquisition of the company.