Last night, Space Systems Command announced that SpaceX will build the Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone under a $2.29 billion OTA contract. The SDN Backbone will be an optically-linked proliferated LEO constellation to provide high-capacity, and low-latency data transport for the Joint Force.

It will form part of the overall Space Data Network, which the Space Force has described as a hybrid network that integrates DoD and commercial networks across various orbits for private transport, tactical data links, and public internet services to users. 

Also in this edition, SSC has recently issued multiple awards under the Protected Tactical Satellite program — with Viasat, SES, and Northrop Grumman winning contracts. The overall PTS program is the follow-on to Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite constellation and includes PTS-G, PTS-Resilient (PTS-R), and PTS-Prototype payloads.

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