The U.S. Space Force recently awarded Virginia-based Boeing, a global aerospace company, a $2.8 billion contract for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program.
The contract is for the development and production of two satellites with options for two more. It enhances U.S. strategic satellite communication capabilities.
“This win validates all the investments and innovations we’ve made in our satellite technology, creating a technically mature and low-risk offering for the government,” Michelle Parker, Boeing Space Mission Systems vice president, said. “We scaled our production capacity, invested in our team, hired cleared talent, and assembled hot production lines to make sure that we can hit the ground running from day one. We are committed to delivering this critical capability to meet the strategic need.”
The ESS program provides protected and secure strategic satellite communications connectivity for presidential national voice conferencing and space-based nuclear, command, control and communications.
Boeing has been under a rapid prototyping contract with the U.S. Space Force since 2020. Its ESS solution uses technology developed for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites.
Boeing will deliver the satellites by 2031. Once deployed in geostationary orbit, approximately 22,000 miles above Earth’s surface, ESS will provide persistent coverage to strategic warfighters worldwide.