Space Force awards Northrop $298 million for Evolved Strategic SATCOM

The Space Force this week awarded Northrop Grumman a sole-source $298 million contract for the rapid prototyping phase of its Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications program.

The work is expected to be complete by May 2025, and the service obligated about $31 million at the time of the award.

Northrop said in a Sept. 17 press release the company would develop a "modernized strategic communications space segment with enhanced resilience and cybersecurity capabilities."

The Space Force intends for ESS to initially integrate with and ultimately replace the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite program, which Lockheed Martin developed with Northrop as its communications payload provider. The Space Force is using Mid-Tier Acquisition authorities to streamline the effort.

"ESS is critical to extending our nation's secure satellite communications infrastructure, as it will provide strategic users with assured, uninterruptable connectivity without fear of discovery anywhere on the globe," the company said.

The service plans to award multiple ESS rapid prototyping contracts and is in the midst of developing a strategy for its future SATCOM architecture.