The Space Force is preparing to award contracts for programs in fiscal 2024 worth some $20 billion, marking an exponential increase from the $1.6 billion awarded across the SATCOM and PNT portfolios in fiscal 2023. The service is making a significant shift towards fielding more resilient capabilities in orbit and on the ground, transitioning to smaller satellites in lower orbits.
The Space Force anticipates awarding contracts for the military satellite communications and positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities. The anticipated deals will fund new projects as well as upgrades to existing systems that will help the Space Force transition to its new architecture. This includes an $8 billion contract that would fund the development of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications constellation, which will replace legacy Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites.
Another $2 billion contract would modernize and sustain the ground system that supports the Space Force’s Mobile User Objective System satellites, which provide narrowband communication capabilities. The Space Systems Command is also planning to award $464 million to Boeing to build the 12th Wideband Global SATCOM satellite, which will provide more communications capacity and anti-jamming capabilities.
The Space Warfighting Analysis Center is designing a plan for what PNT capabilities may look like and should have findings within the next year. While the Space Force anticipates awarding the contracts in FY24, the funding will be distributed over a longer period of time, as is typical for Defense Department acquisition programs.
