A

David

Darling

Leasat (Leased Satellite)

Leasat (Leased Satellite) was a series of satellites, launched in the 1980s and developed as a commercial venture, to provide dedicated communications services to the American military. The program stemmed from Congressional reviews in 1976–1977, which advised increased use of leased commercial facilities. Owned by Hughes Communications, the satellites are designed to provide global UHF communications to military air, sea, and ground forces. The system's primary user was the United States Navy, with some support also provided to the Air Force and ground mobile forces. The Leasats, along with the Navy's FLTSATCOM satellites (Fleet Satellite Communications satellites) have now been largely superceded by the UFO (UHF Follow-On) satellites.