The Protected Tactical The PTS-G satellites will take over the encrypted tactical SATCOM portion of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency System (AEHF) constellations mission. (US Space Force photo in the public domain.)
WASHINGTON ― The Space Force today announced contracts to Viasat and Intelsat for production of the first two operational satellites under its “Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global (PTS-G)” program aimed at developing a jam-resistant satellite communications fleet.
The two awards, collectively worth $437.7 million, cover manufacturing, integration, and test, launch, and on-orbit checkout of the two satellites collectively dubbed “Swarm-1,” according to the Space Systems Command (SSC) press release. To be stationed in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), the satellites will provide limited regional connectivity in the X and military Ka-bands.
SSC initiated the PTS-G program in 2025 with a budget of $248 million as a new tier in its Protected Anti-Jam Tactical SATCOM (PATS) family of systems. Last July, the command issued a indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract and and five task orders for conceptual designs worth a total of $37.5 million to Boeing, Viasat, Northrop Grumman, Astranis and Intelsat. At the time, the Space Force hoped to launch the first of the new satellites in 2028.
