The Space Force offered a glimpse this week of its vision for the future of narrowband satellite communications, a plan that could include a large number of spacecraft in multiple orbits with advanced capabilities.
Today’s narrowband communication satellites, part of the Mobile User Objective System constellation, provide cellular voice and data capabilities to military forces around the world. In a May 29 notice, the Space Force said it wants its future narrowband satellites to be more resilient, cost less to build and maintain, and be fielded on faster timelines.
The service also envisions the proliferated constellation residing in medium Earth orbit, or MEO, below geostationary orbit where the satellites are currently positioned. The Space Force has four MUOS satellites in orbit and one spare, all built by Lockheed Martin.
As the service crafts its vision for what capability will follow MUOS, it plans to launch two more satellites to keep the constellation operational through at least 2035. In January, the service awarded Lockheed and Boeing each a $66 million contract to design prototypes of the two spacecraft by July 2025.
The key is whether the existing ground terminals designed to link with satellites in GEO can interoperate with MEO spacecraft without the need for major upgrades. The service also wants to better understand the technical and schedule risks that could impede its plan to launch the transitional system by 2031.
The notice does not discuss the role commercial systems may play in the future narrowband architecture, though Space Force officials have said they are considering how to integrate technology available in the private sector. In its commercial space strategy released in April, the service highlighted satellite communications more broadly as an area of opportunity for commercial collaboration.