Lockheed nabs $258M Evolved Strategic SATCOM prototype contract

摘要

The Space Force this week awarded Lockheed Martin a $258 million contract to develop a competing satellite payload prototype for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications program. The contract follows awards to Boeing and Northrop Grumman, each for $298 million. The three companies are each designing competing payload prototypes to support rapid development of an ESS satellite. ESS is the follow-on to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency program and is expected to improve anti-jam and strategic communications capabilities while also being more survivable and adopting a modular open system design approach. Designated a Mid-Tier Acquisition program, the Space Force is applying rapid acquisition authorities to deliver the capability more quickly - eyeing prototype completion from each company in the spring or summer of 2025.