Space Force picks five defense contractors to develop SATCOM microsatellites for global communications

Summary points:

• U.S. Space Force is asking five defense companies to develop the Protected Tactical Satellite-Global (PTS-G) constellation, aiming for jam-resistant, secure military communications worldwide.
• PTS-G will deploy low-cost, quick-to-launch satellites in geostationary orbit with an encrypted waveform to resist electronic jamming.
• The Protected Tactical Satellite-Global will reach initial operational capability in 2028, and full operational capability by 2032.

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – U.S. Space Force satellite communications (SATCOM) experts are asking five defense companies to develop a constellation of affordable microsatellites for global military jam-resistant and secure communications.

Officials of the Space Systems Command at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., announced five contracts collectively worth $37.3 million on Monday for the Protected Tactical Satellite-Global (PTS-G) program.

PTS-G will develop a constellation of global communications satellites to provide jam-resistant, secure communications for military operations worldwide. The project will deploy several small commercial-grade low-cost quick-to-launch satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO).

Companies chosen

Companies developing PTS-G are:

-- Viasat Inc. in Carlsbad, Calif.;
-- Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Dulles, Va.;
-- Astranis Space Technologies Corp. in San Francisco;
-- Intelsat General Communications LLC in McLean, Va.; and
-- The Boeing Co. in El Segundo, Calif.

The system will use the encrypted Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) that resists electronic warfare (EW) jamming and attacks to provide reliable connectivity for warfighters in contested environments.

Initial capabilities will focus on specific regions, and eventually the system will offer worldwide coverage using X-band and military Ka-band SATCOM frequencies.

Tell me more about microsatellites.

• Microsatellites typically weigh between 22 to 220 pounds, and are easier and cheaper to launch than larger spacecraft. Their relatively low costs are for governments with limited budgets, and can be built and launched much faster than traditional satellites. Microsatellites are appropriate for Earth observation, communications, scientific research, space weather monitoring, and military reconnaissance.

The five PTS-G contractors will develop several types of satellites using PTS-G-Ka and PTS-G-X RF and microwave bands, and integrate these spacecraft with existing and updated ground infrastructures, and will address different deployment scenarios and requirements.

Contractors will handle systems integration, installation, testing, trusted computing and cyber security, and fielding of teleport and other ground capabilities at military and commercial sites.

Contractors are responsible for maintenance, upgrades, and replacement of obsolete or broken satellites. PTS-G initial operational capability is set for 2028 and full operational capability by 2032.

On these initial contracts, the companies will do the work at their own facilities, and should be finished by January 2026. For more information contact Space Systems Command online at www.ssc.spaceforce.mil.