The Defense Department is planning its next-generation military satellite communications architecture under the assumption that an ongoing study will validate laser communications as the solution to longstanding bandwidth concerns, according to officials and documents. The Pentagon intends to spend $2.24 billion between fiscal years 2003 and 2007 developing and adding laser communications to a next-generation MILSATCOM system. Although the Transformational Communications Study is not expected to be competed until mid summer, the Air Force has budgeted $1.26 billion over the...