Satcom based messaging and locator system

A communication system comprising:

• a housing;
• a GPS receiver disposed within the housing;
• a satcom (satellite communication) transmitter disposed within the housing, the satcom transmitter adapted to communicate with a satellite;
• a programming button located on the housing;
• a control unit disposed within the housing in communication with the GPS receiver, the satcom transmitter and the programming button;
• a logistics asset having a logistics asset receiver, the logistics asset receiver adapted to maintain communications between itself and the satellite;
• and
• wherein, a discrete message is programmed via the programming button so that the message is stored by the control unit and the message is combined with a GPS coordinate captured by the GPS receiver and the message and the GPS coordinate are transmitted to the satellite via the satcom transmitter such that the satellite relays the message and the GPS coordinate to the logistics asset receiver, the message being transmitted using a military secure encrypted communication protocol wherein the message is digitally signed prior to being transmitted by the satcom transmitter in order to permit the message to be transmitted via the military secure encrypted communication protocol, and wherein the logistics asset has a heartbeat signal that includes a single use password such that the logistics asset must use the single use password to decrypt the message.