U.S. Space Force Awards Viasat, SES $437.6 Million for 4 Jam-Resistant Military Satellites
Updated
Updated · SpaceNews · May 22
U.S. Space Force Awards Viasat, SES $437.6 Million for 4 Jam-Resistant Military Satellites
1 articles · Updated · SpaceNews · May 22
$437.6 million in Space Force contracts will fund Viasat and SES to build the first PTS-G satellites, with Pentagon documents indicating a four-satellite “Swarm 1” split evenly between the two companies.
The Protected Tactical Satcom-Global program is designed to keep military communications running under jamming, cyber attack or single-satellite loss by spreading capacity across smaller commercial-based spacecraft in geostationary orbit.
The satellites will carry X-band and military Ka-band payloads and are due for delivery by March 2029, though the award announcement did not specify the procurement size.
Viasat and SES emerged from a five-company pool selected last July to develop demonstration payloads; Astranis, Boeing and Northrop Grumman were also in contention.
Pentagon budget plans point to a second 2028 buy of four more PTS-G satellites, with deployment targeted for 2031.
How will this $437M network prove its resilience against cyberattacks before its 2029 launch?
Is a satellite 'swarm' a resilient military strategy or just a more distributed target for adversaries?
Can commercial technology truly secure military communications against state-sponsored hackers?
Securing the Future: How PTS-G’s $4 Billion Program is Revolutionizing Jam-Resistant Military Satellite Communications
Overview
The Protected Tactical Satellite Communications-Global (PTS-G) program is advancing the U.S. military’s ability to maintain secure, jam-resistant communications in contested environments. Building on the Protected Anti-Jam Tactical SATCOM (PATS) architecture that began in 2018, PTS-G aims to create a robust satellite network using multiple satellite types and advanced encryption like the Protected Tactical Waveform. This approach is designed to counter adversary jamming and ensure resilient communications for military operations. Recent milestones, such as the 2024 request for proposals, highlight the program’s progress and its transformative impact on how satellite communication capabilities are acquired and deployed.