Boeing has secured a $2.8 billion contract for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program, which is part of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications architecture. The initial agreement covers two satellites with options for two additional ones.
“It’s a critical time to advance U.S. space capabilities to ensure peace through strength,” stated Cordell DeLaPena, the U.S. Space Force Program Executive Officer for Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Directorate. He emphasized the need for protection and reliable capability in strategic communication missions against adversary attempts to disrupt connectivity.
The ESS satellites are designed to offer enhanced capacity, flexibility, reliability, and resilience compared to current strategic communications satellites. Boeing has been working on technical maturation and risk reduction since 2020 under a rapid prototyping contract with the U.S. Space Force.
Kay Sears, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space, Intelligence and Weapon Systems, noted that “the U.S. needs a strategic national security architecture that works without fail.” She highlighted the innovative system designed by Boeing to provide secure communication amid evolving threats in space.
Boeing's ESS solution incorporates technology from its Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites as well as from the commercial O3b mPOWER constellation. This military communications satellite constellation will feature flexible signals resistant to interruption or interception.
“This win validates all the investments and innovations we’ve made in our satellite technology,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. She mentioned Boeing's efforts in scaling production capacity and investing in talent to meet strategic needs efficiently.
When deployed at about 22,000 miles above Earth in geostationary orbit, ESS will provide continuous coverage for strategic warfighters globally using highly protected waveforms developed with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Boeing plans to deliver the first two space vehicles by 2031.