General Dynamics C4 Systems said it recently completed the mounting of three satellite antennas on 53-foot-tall pedestals in Wahiawa, as part of the upcoming deployment of the U.S. military's next-generation narrowband global mobile statellite communications.

The Wahiawa facility is the first of four ground stations that will be equipped with the satellite antenna systems. Others will be located in Virginia, Australia and Italy.

The system will provide cell phone-like services to ground-based warfighters around the globe, General Dynamics said. Users will be able to communicate directly with each other and their commanders from almost anywhere in the world.

General Dynamics has responsibility for the ground-based segment of the system under contract to Lockheed Martin, which has been contracted to provide the satellites being used.