Heinrich Tours AV Manufacturing Facility, Receives Demo of BADGER Satellite Communications System
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured AV’s space operations manufacturing facility and received a demonstration of their next generation BADGER satellite communications system, which will expand and modernize the nation’s satellite operations capability, strengthen national security, and further solidify New Mexico’s role as a global hub for defense and space innovation.
The BADGER satellite communications system is a ground terminal phased array antenna that ensures the U.S. military can transmit and receive critical data and satellite communication without delays, interruptions, or cyber intrusions. Heinrich joined AV (then BlueHal0) in 2023 for a milestone demonstration of the technology’s capabilities. Now, the company is ready to deliver its first operational BADGER unit later this year to the U.S. Space Force as part of the $1.4B Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR) program.
Heinrich’s efforts helped establish the U.S. Space Force Space Rapid Capabilities Office (SpRCO) at Kirtland Airforce Base in the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) National Defense Authorization Act. He has since secured $27.5M in additional appropriations to support SpRCO and BADGER work in New Mexico. As AV transitions from research and development to full-scale production of the BADGER systems, Dr. Kelly Hammett, Director of SpRCO, joined Heinrich for the demonstration and tour to see the manufacturing expansion.
"Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to support New Mexico’s growing leadership in space and defense technologies,” said Heinrich. “AV’s BADGER satellite communication system will strengthen our national security and help create good-paying jobs New Mexican families can rely on.”
Heinrich continued, “This is a great example of what New Mexico does best. We are leading the world in directed energy. What this represents here at AV now is the transition — from creating science and technology to now also manufacturing and building it right here in New Mexico.”
AV has significantly grown its presence in New Mexico, with three facilities and more than 200,00 square feet of office, research and development, and manufacturing space on its campus within Sandia Science & Technology Park. The company has added more than 120 high-quality, high-paying jobs since Heinrich cut the ribbon of AV’s space operations manufacturing facility three years ago. AV now has 419 employees in New Mexico with an average annual salary of more than $130,00 and anticipates more job growth as it expands manufacturing into full-rate production.
"AV continues to drive innovation to address critical national security priorities across all domains. With proximity to our customers and strong support from local, state, and federal partners, we are excited to advance these efforts here in New Mexico,” stated Mary Clum, Executive Vice President of AV’s Space & DE Mission Systems. “As we prepare to deliver our first of many BADGER phased array antennas to the U.S. Space Force, we thank Senator Heinrich for his unwavering support of this vital work and for his commitment to establishing and maintaining our nation’s space superiority. It was an honor to showcase our progress as we transition from development to production, successfully meeting the mission with both scale and speed."
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