Viasat has secured a multi-year contract from the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command to build an encryption system that protects satellites from cyberattacks.
The effort directs the California-based enterprise’s Defense and Advanced Technologies division to design technology that secures data moving between satellites and ground stations.
The project includes creating space-ready hardware and linking it with the company’s certified ground equipment for testing.
At the center of this effort is Viasat’s End Cryptographic Unit, built to safeguard signals before launch and while in orbit.
The device will address different communication threats while minimizing weight, size, and power use, which are key benchmarks in spacecraft design.
Viasat will also deliver upgraded Ground Operating Equipment to test future satellite communications systems.
The platform will be used to handle more complex encryption keys and algorithms, making transmissions harder to disrupt or intercept.
“Viasat is proud to partner with the US Space Force on modern crypto solutions to address current and evolving threat environments,” said David Schmolke, vice president of mission connections and cybersecurity at Viasat Government.
“We are committed to supporting future capabilities of integrated space-crypto solutions to ensure that mission critical data and satellite access controls are protected.”
