On Saturday, July 5th, 2025, the U.S. Space Force announced that Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $2.8 billion contract for the development and production of two satellites. This contract also includes options for two additional satellites, which will be part of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program. These satellites will deliver resilient space-based nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) for the President of the United States and joint strategic forces worldwide.
The ESS program is a crucial component of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications architecture. It provides modernized, protected, and secure strategic satellite communications connectivity for Presidential National Voice Conferencing and the nation’s NC3 enterprise. The contract for the ESS program was awarded to Boeing after a rigorous selection process by the U.S. Space Force.
According to Cordell DeLaPena, the U.S. Space Force Program Executive Officer for the Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Directorate, this is a critical time to advance U.S. space capabilities in order to ensure peace through strength. He also stated that the strategic communication mission requires protection, power, and always-available capability, even in the face of adversary attempts to interrupt connectivity. These satellites will provide the necessary connectivity from space as part of a refreshed NC3 architecture for the nation.
The ESS space vehicles will have increased capacity, flexibility, reliability, and resilience compared to the current strategic communications satellites in orbit. Boeing has been working on technical maturation and risk reduction for the U.S. Space Force since 2020 under a rapid prototyping contract. Kay Sears, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Space, Intelligence, and Weapon Systems, stated that the U.S. needs a strategic national security architecture that works without fail, with the highest level of protection and capability. She also added that Boeing has designed an innovative system to provide guaranteed communication to address an evolving threat environment in space.
Boeing’s ESS solution is built on technology that the company has developed for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites, as well as the commercial O3b mPOWER constellation. This strategic military communications satellite constellation will be equipped with flexible and resilient signals to protect against interruption or interception. Michelle Parker, Vice President of Boeing Space Mission Systems, stated that this win validates all the investments and innovations the company has made in their satellite technology. She also mentioned that Boeing is committed to delivering this critical capability to meet the strategic need.
When deployed in geostationary orbit, approximately 22,000 miles or 35,700 km from the Earth’s surface, the ESS will provide persistent coverage to strategic warfighters worldwide. The spacecraft will utilize a highly protected waveform and classified technologies developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. Boeing is expected to deliver the first of the two space vehicles by 2031.
Boeing is a leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter. The company develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Their U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing is dedicated to fostering a culture based on their core values of safety, quality, and integrity.
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Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
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