American warfighters need reliable, jam-proof communications, and the Space Force is investing hundreds of millions to make that a reality. Through the Protected Tactical Satcom program, the service is developing secure battlefield communications via satellites. Earlier contracts were awarded to defense giants Boeing and Northrop Grumman to prototype payloads for geostationary orbit satellites.
Now, the program is moving forward with a new phase. The Space Force recently awarded five additional contracts for the design and demonstration of purpose-built satellites to provide jam-resistant communications to tactical forces. The winning companies include previous participants Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Viasat, and Intelsat, along with newcomer Astranis, a San Francisco-based startup. Intelsat will source its satellite bus from K2 Space, another venture-backed startup.
The initial awards total $37.3 million, but the program has a $4 billion ceiling, meaning the contracts could expand significantly. Each company will develop its architecture through January 2026. After that, the Space Force will select one design and award a contract for the first satellite, with a planned launch in 2028. Additional production awards will follow later that year.
This approach marks a shift from traditional military procurement of geostationary satellites, which often involved lengthy timelines and costs ranging from hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars per spacecraft. Instead, the Space Force is embracing commercial innovation and competition by involving multiple vendors in the program’s early stages.
“Our PTS-G contract transforms how we acquire SATCOM capability for the warfighter,” said program executive officer Cordell DeLaPena Jr. “By leveraging commercial designs to meet military needs, we enhance the Space Force’s ability to rapidly deploy new capabilities against emerging threats.”