The US Space Force has awarded a $37.5-million contract to five companies for the development of the Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global (PTS-G) system, a satellite communications network for military users.
PTS-G will use small satellites in geosynchronous orbit to deliver resilient, anti-jam connectivity worldwide.
The firms selected are Viasat, Northrop Grumman, Astranis, Intelsat General, and Boeing.
Each company will adapt one of its existing commercial satellite designs to meet PTS-G requirements and conduct technical demonstrations.
These initial efforts will be evaluated by the US Space Force and inform the selection of contractors for future production phases.
“The incorporation of commercial baseline designs to meet military capability significantly enhances the Space Force’s speed and efficiency to add capability to meet emerging threats,” said Cordell DeLaPena, Jr., program executive officer for SSC Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing.
A production contract is expected in 2026 to deliver initial satellites for launch by 2028.
A second production phase is scheduled for 2028, with additional satellites launching in 2031.
Latest Projects
The US continues to expand and modernize its space capabilities with a wave of recent developments in satellite navigation, control systems, and electronic warfare.
Last month, the US Space Force upgraded the control segment of its Global Positioning System (GPS) with the Next Generation Operational Control System, new software that improves positioning, navigation, and timing across the GPS satellite network.
In June, L3Harris delivered the Meadowlands Counter Communications System to the Electromagnetic Warfare unit, a ground-based platform built to jam or disrupt enemy satellite communications.
Earlier in April, Lockheed Martin delivered the GPS III SV08 satellite to the US Space Force in Florida, where it is undergoing final checks before joining the 31-satellite operational GPS constellation in orbit.
