Sign in Subscribe
Defence contracts

Military Jets to Tap into Commercial Satellite Internet Constellations via $13.1M Contract Award

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As part of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program, Raytheon Intelligence & Space has been awarded a $13.1 million contract to develop a phased array antenna that will enable military jets to seamlessly connect to emerging commercial satellite internet constellations in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). The program, aimed at establishing resilient, high-bandwidth communications capabilities, is seeking to leverage the developing commercial space internet networks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $13.1 million contract awarded to Raytheon Intelligence & Space is for the development of a phased array antenna to connect military jets to commercial satellite internet constellations in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • The Air Force Research Laboratory's DEUCSI program, also known as "Global Lightning," aims to establish resilient, high-bandwidth, high-availability communications capabilities by leveraging commercial space internet networks.
  • The phased-array antenna developed by Raytheon will allow an aircraft to seamlessly jump between different satellites, providing communications at speeds much faster than currently available to military aircraft.
  • The program has also received a similar contract from Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. for $9.7 million.
  • The Air Force intends to test the antennas with several commercial satellite constellations, including those from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris.
  • Fiscal 2020 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,773,097 were obligated to Raytheon at the time of award.

Statistics:

  • $13.1 million: the value of the contract awarded to Raytheon Intelligence & Space.
  • $9.7 million: the value of the contract awarded to Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
  • 2022: the scheduled flight demonstration for the DEUCSI program.
  • Thousands: the potential number of satellites that could enable communications at speeds much faster than currently available to military aircraft.
  • $5,773,097: the amount of fiscal 2020 research, development, test, and evaluation funds obligated to Raytheon at the time of award.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Raytheon Intelligence & Space press release
  • Via Satellite, Dr. Brian Beal quote
  • U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory DEUCSI program announcement
  • Aug 6: date of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. contract announcement
  • Sept 10: date of Raytheon Intelligence & Space contract announcement

Read more