Space Force contracts Viasat, Intelsat for first of new anti-jam communication sats
WASHINGTON ― The Space Force today announced contracts to Viasat and Intelsat for production of the first two operational satellites under its “Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global (PTS-G)” program aimed at developing a jam-resistant satellite communications fleet.
The two awards, collectively worth $437.7 million, cover manufacturing, integration, and test, launch, and on-orbit checkout of the two satellites collectively dubbed “Swarm-1,” according to the Space Systems Command (SSC) press release. To be stationed in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), the satellites will provide limited regional connectivity in the X and military Ka-bands.
SSC initiated the PTS-G program in 2025 with a budget of $248 million as a new tier in its Protected Anti-Jam Tactical SATCOM (PATS) family of systems. Last July, the command issued a indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract and and five task orders for conceptual designs worth a total of $37.5 million to Boeing, Viasat, Northrop Grumman, Astranis and Intelsat. At the time, the Space Force hoped to launch the first of the new satellites in 2028.
The service’s fiscal year 2026 research and development budget included almost $237 million for PTS-G; the FY27 request includes $150 million.
The overarching PATS program features several subordinate efforts aimed at developing a disaggregated architecture of satellites to take over the tactical mission of the current Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellites, which provide highly encrypted communications for both strategic and tactical needs. This includes development of a new encrypted signal called the Protected Tactical Waveform, which eventually will be embedded in payloads carried on US and allied military satellites, as well as commercial birds.
“PTS-G is a key component of the USSF’s resilient SATCOM architecture, designed to provide tactical warfighters with a worldwide, transponded system, leveraging both Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) and non-PTW waveforms, to provide critical communication to existing legacy wideband users while also deploying PTW to provide anti-jam satellite communications to counter emerging threats and ensure connectivity in denied environments,” the SSC press release explained.
The U.S. Space Force awarded contracts worth $437.7 million to Viasat and Intelsat for the production of two anti-jam communication satellites under the Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global program. These satellites will be stationed in geosynchronous Earth orbit and are expected to enhance tactical communication capabilities. The program aims to counter emerging threats and ensure connectivity in denied environments, with the first satellite launch anticipated in 2028.
- Contracts worth $437.7 million awarded to Viasat and Intelsat
- Development of the Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global program
- Satellites to be stationed in geosynchronous Earth orbit
- First satellite launch expected in 2028
- Program initiated with a budget of $248 million