Space Force reexamining acquisition strategy for secure narrow-band communications

WASHINGTON — As it studies the potential for new satellites to extend the lifetime of its current network, the Space Force is engaged in an effort to map out a longer-range acquisition strategy for narrow-band satellite communications — including whether, and if so how, commercial systems might be better leveraged.

A final report outlining the pros and cons of various options is slated for sometime this spring, a spokesperson for the service’s primary acquisition unit, Space Systems Command, told Breaking Defense in an email.

“The Narrowband Communications Services (NCS) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), kicked off in May 2023, was initiated by a memorandum from Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (OSD CAPE), and directed the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) to appoint a Study Director to lead the effort,” the spokesperson said. “One of the main thrusts of the endeavor is determining if and how commercial capabilities and emerging technologies can effectively meet warfighter demands.”

That study involves eight different working groups looking at all aspects of the question. Those are the: Technology Alternatives Working Group; Cost Analysis Working Group; Performance Effectiveness Analysis Working Group; Commercial Working Group; Enterprise Working Group; Threats/Scenarios Working Group; Cyber Working Group and the International Partner Working Group.

The latter, known as the IPWG and lead by SSC’s International Affairs office at the direction of SWAC, is unique, and aims “to ensure interoperability between the US and Allied partners during combined global operations,” the SSC spokesperson explained.

“This unprecedented study includes 12 partner nations contributing to defining requirements, current utility, and plans for future tactical satellite communications. …  Both SWAC & SSC are working alongside our US partners and Allies to align future capabilities across the SATCOM mission area. Highlighting the growing interest and investment in this area, several international partners (IP) are pursuing both sovereign and commercial Narrowband SATCOM capabilities,” the spokesperson said.

Currently, the military’s needs for secure, narrowband communications — a capability most used by the US Navy, but also by multiple aircraft and soldiers on the ground — is being met via the long-troubled ultra-high frequency Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) communications satellites. Responsibility for MUOS was transferred from the Navy to the Air Force in May 2019, and subsequently to the Space Force when it stood up that December.

There are five MUOS satellites on-orbit, although a lack of up-to-date radio receivers has meant that the Defense Department has been unable for many years to utilize the network’s most advanced capabilities.

That said, the Space Force in 2022 launched a program to extend the life of the network. Congress in fiscal 2023 gave the service $46 million to buy two new MUOS satellites. In fiscal 2024 the service asked for $230.1 million in research and development funds for the life extension program including the satellites and ground facilities, and slightly more than $2 billion over the five-year budget cycle.

On Jan. 25, DoD announced that Lockheed Martin and Boeing have each won 15-month contracts worth $66 million to develop a new, more modern satellite design, with the service then deciding on which to use in building the two new MUOS birds.

“This Phase 1 contract provides for risk reduction and early design activities to reduce risk and uncertainty prior to entering MUOS SLE Phase 2. Work will be performed at the contractors’ facilities and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2025,” the Pentagon said in its contracts announcement.