The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command is planning to award contracts worth approximately $20 billion in fiscal year 2024 for programs related to satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing, a significant increase from the $1.6 billion awarded in FY 2023, DefenseNews reported Thursday.
Cordell DeLaPena, SSC program executive officer for military communications and PNT, said the planned awards will focus on the satcom portfolio as the Space Force seeks to deploy more resilient space and ground-based capabilities.
“The MILSATCOM mission area will transform, will pivot from providing not only network communications at the tactical edge, but will evolve into the data transport backbone from space — moving data from one side of the Earth to the other,” DeLaPena said.
The anticipated awards will include a potential $8 billion contract to develop a satellite constellation to provide nuclear command, control and communications for the U.S. military and command authorities.
DeLaPena said SSC plans to release in January a request for proposals for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications constellation.
