Satellite System for USSF to be Developed by Boeing
A contract to build a satellite payload prototype and develop a new secure, resilient satellite system and communications architecture for the U.S. Space Force’s Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) program has been awarded to Boeing. The contract is one of three to be awarded by the service.
“By leveraging our expertise in digital engineering and technologies with synergies across both our government and commercial systems, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver solutions needed to address the ever-evolving threats.”
Troy Dawson, vice president of Boeing Government Satellite Systems.
ESS will be a military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) system. It is a critical component of the U.S. Space Force’s strategy.
The initial ESS development contract is valued at $298 million. Contracts for the full ESS system are expected to be awarded in 2025.
“We have worked closely with the Space Force to define a program responsive to our nation’s needs,” said Troy Dawson, vice president of Boeing Government Satellite Systems. “By leveraging our expertise in digital engineering and technologies with synergies across both our government and commercial systems, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver solutions needed to address the ever-evolving threats.”
Boeing’s support of the U.S. government’s SATCOM mission spans six decades and has since included programs that span air, land and space domains. The company’s secure MILSATCOM programs include extremely high-frequency payloads, the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation, the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service and Protected Tactical SATCOM program, which deliver survivable, secure and resilient communications to the U.S. military and its allies.
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is a new branch of the Armed Forces. It was established on December 20, 2019 with enactment of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and will be stood-up over the next 18 months. The USSF was established within the Department of the Air Force, meaning the Secretary of the Air Force has overall responsibility for the USSF, under the guidance and direction of the Secretary of Defense. Additionally, a four-star general known as the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) serves as the senior military member of the USSF.
(Source: Boeing news release)