Military organization Space Force chooses Boeing for a $2.8 billion strategic satellite project.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a significant contract worth $2.8 billion to deliver two highly secure communications satellites for the Evolved Strategic Satellite (ESS) program. This program is a crucial part of the nation's nuclear command and control infrastructure, designed to provide resilient communications for nuclear command and control.

The ESS program succeeds the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellites and aims to ensure the U.S. can deploy nuclear weapons from far-flung submarines and missile silos, even in a doomsday scenario. The software defined communications payloads in ESS have been proven on-orbit with Boeing-built spacecraft.

This contract win validates Boeing's investments and innovations in satellite technology, according to Michelle Parker, Boeing's VP of Space Mission Systems. If the Space Force exercises an option for two more satellites, the deal would be Boeing's largest public satellite sale to date.

The ESS program is expected to cost the Space Force $12 billion to purchase at least four satellites. The software defined communications payloads in ESS are destined to fly in Wideband Global SATCOM satellites Boeing is building for the Pentagon.

In a related development, the U.S. Department of Defense has decided to cancel the Protected Tactical SATCOM-Resilient program, meaning the program will be discontinued and its intended developments halted. SSC, the department responsible for the decision, did not respond to questions about what the new approach to tactical comms acquisition will entail.

The Protected Tactical SATCOM-Resilient program involved Boeing and Northrop Grumman developing space communications systems. However, SSC's decision is intended to speed a new approach to tactical comms acquisition with "lower cost-risk contracts." The payloads from the canceled Protected Tactical SATCOM-Resilient program are still expected to launch and be brought into operation.

Boeing beat out rival Northrop Grumman to construct a key piece of national security infrastructure with this contract win. The ESS program is a significant step forward in ensuring the U.S. maintains its strategic advantage in communications technology.

Military organization Space Force chooses Boeing for a $2.8 billion strategic satellite project.