A C-17 military transport aircraft flies over Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The Pentagon is expanding the use of SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications on military aircraft, including cargo planes. Credit: U.S. Air Force
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is expanding its use of SpaceX’s Starshield satellite network aboard military aircraft, awarding the company a new fleet-level service contract that sheds light on how the system is being integrated across U.S. aviation fleets.
The Space Force’s Commercial Space Office posted an award notice on Aug. 25 for “Starshield Custom Fleet Aviation Services,” covering satellite subscription services for aircraft equipped with SpaceX’s Starshield Tile and smaller Tile Mini terminals. The value of the award was redacted.
The new task order was awarded July 28 and calls for worldwide Starshield service with data rates of at least 500 megabits per second downlink and 100 megabits per second uplink. The contract has a one-year base period through July 2027 and an option extending service through July 2028, according to the notice.
A supporting acquisition document provides some details on the Pentagon’s adoption of Starshield for airborne communications.
