US satellite jammer "Meadowlands" set for next year delivery

A weapon designed to disrupt Chinese and Russian satellites at the onset of a conflict has resolved its technical issues and is now expected to be delivered next year, according to the US Space Force.

This delivery comes more than two years later than initially planned, Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

The system, developed by L3Harris Technologies Inc. and known as Meadowlands, is a lighter, mobile version of a “Counter Communications System” that was declared operational in 2020. The new model is capable of receiving software updates and can jam a broader range of frequencies. Originally slated for delivery in October 2022, the system faced undisclosed technical challenges.

As of last month, Meadowlands has “completed all system-level verification testing” and is “on track for delivery next year,” as stated by Space Systems Command in a release to Bloomberg News.

Between January and March, the Space Force will evaluate when the first five units of a planned 32 can be deemed operational. These will be assigned to the Space Force’s electronic warfare unit, Space Delta 3.

L3Harris noted that the Meadowlands system includes significant upgrades in technical performance and offers easier logistics for deployment and maintenance. Although verification testing took longer than anticipated, L3Harris confirmed that it has now completed these tests, and the program is set for early delivery next year.

Following this announcement, L3Harris shares rose 4.4% in after-hours trading, as the company raised its revenue and profit forecasts for the year. The company's revenue for the third quarter reached $5.29 billion, with projected annual revenue between $21.1 billion and $21.3 billion.

Jammers like Meadowlands are designed to temporarily incapacitate adversarial systems during conflicts, addressing the increasing number of Chinese and Russian space capabilities. Currently, China operates over 300 remote sensing satellites equipped with various sensors, enhancing its military’s ability to monitor US naval operations and air deployments. While Russia possesses some of the world’s most advanced remote-sensing satellites, its overall quantity is limited compared to the US and China.

By Tamilla Hasanova