The US Air Force has successfully launched the first advanced extremely high-frequency (AEHF) satellite aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the AEHF satellite is the most technologically advanced military communications satellite to date.

The satellite will provide significantly improved global, survivable, highly secure, protected, communications for warfighters operating on ground, sea and air platforms.

A single AEHF satellite will provide greater total capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently in-orbit.

The AEHF will also provide the critical survivable, protected and endurable communications to the National Command Authority including presidential conferencing in all levels of conflict.