Northrop Grumman has secured a $398-million contract from the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command to develop an Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications Prototype.
The award falls under the Protected Tactical SATCOM Family of Systems program, which aims to strengthen military communications against electronic warfare threats such as jamming and cyber attacks.
Built on Northrop Grumman’s GEOStar-3 satellite bus, the prototype will combine an anti-jam communications payload with a Protected Tactical Waveform processor.
The contract also includes ground systems, launch support, and on-orbit testing.
Advanced digital signal processing technologies and antenna configurations are intended to improve resistance to electronic interference while providing secure Ka-band communications for deployed forces.
A modular architecture is expected to support future upgrades and the integration of additional capabilities without requiring a major redesign.
Recent Space Programs
The latest contract comes as Northrop Grumman continues to expand its presence across key military space programs in the US and Europe.
In April, the company launched the US Space Force’s STP-S29A mission aboard a Minotaur IV rocket, deploying multiple experimental payloads into low Earth orbit to support space technology development and operational testing.
Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman and Hungary’s 4iG Space and Defence Technologies began work on HUGEO, the country’s first sovereign communications satellite.
The geostationary satellite is expected to provide secure Ka-band communications and reduce reliance on foreign networks.
In 2024, Northrop secured a contract from the US Space Development Agency to support Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture’s Tracking Layer.
The program focuses on the delivery of 18 infrared-equipped satellites designed to detect and track advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons, as part of a broader low-Earth-orbit missile-warning and tracking network.
