DOD awards Iridium $738.5M contract for satellites

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) through the U.S. Air Force Space Command recently awarded Iridium Communications a $738.5 million, seven-year, fixed-price contract to provide the agency with unlimited satellite services from its unique Low Earth Orbit constellation.

Iridium will provide access to global secure and unsecure voice, broadcast, netted or Distributed Tactical Communications System and select other services through what the space command’s Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) program.

“Iridium’s EMSS contract serves as a model for how commercial operators can cost-effectively and efficiently deliver critical satellite managed services to the warfighter,” Scott Scheimreif, Iridium executive vice president of government programs, said. “Iridium offers the DoD unrivaled access to its unique, operational, low-earth orbiting network of 66 cross-linked satellites…. The program has been a great example of partnership and innovation between industry and the DoD as Iridium continuously explores ways to meet their emerging requirements. When you combine this level of network transparency, collaboration, and the ease of acquisition, it results in a significant win for the DoD and their users.”

During Iridium’s previous contract, DoD subscribers spiked 145 percent from approximately 51,000 users to more than 125,000.

Iridium offers access to a next-generation satellite network and is the only global mobile voice and data satellite communications network.