Best Deal for DoD

In his Space News Commentary [“DoD Increasingly Dependent on Satcom Services,” July 11, page 19], SES Americom’s David Helfgott articulates a flawed proposition regarding the commercial satellite bandwidth purchased by the U.S. military. While David was correct in stating that DoD is seeking to more fully integrate commercial satellite communication (Satcom) services into its long-term strategic considerations, his advocacy that the DoD should do away with the current commercial Satcom procurement practice and instead engage in long-term bulk buys directly from the carriers ignores both marketplace realities and the military’s unique requirements.