Analysis on Orbit Defense and Control Strategy of USA Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Satellite System

Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) is a new generation of strategic military satellite communication system of the United States. In order to meet the survivable, assured and crucial communication requirements during various levels of military conflict, the AEHF satellites are designed to work in the geosynchronous orbits with small inclinations, and take a series of strategies such as orbit plane isolation and orbit maneuver to improve the security defense capability of the satellite system. In this paper, the orbit defense and control strategy of the AEHF satellite system is analyzed according to Two-Line Element (TLE) published by North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Firstly, the AEHF satellites and their propulsion system configurations are introduced. Then, the TLE data format and the theoretical model of orbit analysis are presented. The orbit defense and control strategy of the AEHF satellite system is analyzed in detail, including inclination control, orbit plane isolation and orbit maneuver. Finally, the analysis conclusions of orbit defense and control strategy are summarized and the preliminary suggestions are provided for the construction of relevant systems in China.