Sunday, November 8, 2026
TGOs

The business of defense

Get the Weekly
Topics
Menu
Search

Contracts · Space

Space Force considers translator satellites for incompatible networks, Breaking Defense reports

Sources told Breaking Defense a wider network overhaul could cost up to $1 billion; five companies already hold prototype awards for translator satellites.

The Space Force is considering translator satellites to connect incompatible optical communications terminals, two industry sources and one former Space Force official told Breaking Defense. The constellation under consideration would have 12 to 13 satellites.1

The Space Force is considering 12 to 13 additional satellites to let incompatible terminals exchange data

Per two industry sources and one former Space Force official

satellites$12-14 million eachcontingent

Sources said the satellites are expected to cost $12-14 million each

wider overhaulup to $1 billioncontingent

the sources said that the overall cost of the wider overhaul could reach up to $1 billion

Reported by Breaking Defense

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Those sources expect the satellites to cost $12 million to $14 million each. They said the wider overhaul could cost up to $1 billion.1

The mismatch involves SpaceX’s Space Data Network Backbone and missile warning and tracking satellites from the Space Development Agency (SDA) and Space Systems Command (SSC). Industry, former government and current Space Force sources said SpaceX’s proprietary Plaser terminals cannot directly exchange data with either agency’s terminals, which are also incompatible with each other. An SDA official confirmed that its Transport and Tracking Layer terminals are not directly compatible with the Plaser waveform; SpaceX did not respond to the outlet.1

SSC started the Space Exchange Point program on Aug. 13 with prototype awards to five companies. Each award was worth $12 million. An SSC spokesperson said vendors have individual demonstration schedules, with demonstrations planned for next calendar year. SSC declined to comment on the program’s projected costs; its spokesperson gave no ultimate constellation size or deployment schedule.1

If both low- and medium-Earth-orbit constellations adopt SDA’s version 4.0.0 optical waveform standard, Breaking Defense reported, it could avoid adding a third optical terminal payload to the translator satellites. An SDA official said it is under consideration for Tranche 4 but is not yet on contract for any SDA tranche.1

Sources (1)
  1. Breaking Defense: Key Space Force satellites can't talk to each other, likely requiring $1B solution: Sources (Nov. 6, 2026) breakingdefense.com
Story permalink ↗
Keep readingBack to top ↑

Next story

Contracts · Space

Viasat wins contract for Space Data Network’s mission operations hub

The award includes a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center, under a contract with a $450 million ceiling.

Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded Viasat a competitive indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Space Data Network Backbone’s Mission Operations Center, the command announced Nov. 5, 2026. The contract carries a $450 million maximum ceiling and a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center.1

Viasat, Inc. will serve as the network and mission system integration partner

Mission Operations Center (MOC) for the Space Data Network Backbone

maximum ceiling$450 millionactual

contract to Viasat, Inc., with a maximum ceiling of $450 million

initial task order$115 millionactual

to design, field, and scale the MOC

Source: Space Systems Command, Nov. 5, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Viasat will serve as the network and mission system integration partner as SSC expands its open-architecture ecosystem across multiple space-segment providers. SSC plans to bring mission integration, network operations and data transport management together through the center.1

The effort builds on the multi-vendor acquisition strategy demonstrated in the Space-Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio’s earlier Delivery Order 2 and Delivery Order 3 work. That work involved Amazon LEO for Government, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab and York Space Systems.1

Breaking Defense reported that the center will serve as the network orchestration hub for the backbone, a low Earth orbit constellation being built by SpaceX. The network’s near-term focus will be supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, the outlet reported.2

DefenseScoop reported that earlier this year the Department of War awarded SpaceX a $2.3 billion contract to deliver a fully operational backbone prototype by the end of 2027.3

The center is intended to integrate mission systems across multiple constellations and providers.1 Breaking Defense described network orchestration as autonomously shifting data among satellite constellations and ground stations when congestion or jamming slows transmission.2

Sources (3)
  1. SSC release, Nov. 5, 2026 www.ssc.spaceforce.mil
  2. Breaking Defense breakingdefense.com
  3. DefenseScoop defensescoop.com
Story permalink ↗

Next story

Contracts · Missile tracking

Space Development Agency asks industry to shape missile-tracking payloads

Responses are due Dec. 4, ahead of a planned Tranche 4 solicitation with production contracts and partnership opportunities for rapid prototyping and flight demonstrations.

The Space Development Agency issued a request for information on Oct. 20, 2026, seeking industry feedback on upgrades to its Tracking Layer mission payloads and architecture. The Tracking Layer is part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.1

SDA plans to announce a Tranche 4 solicitation

Tracking Layer

Tranche 4 solicitationproduction contractsplanned

Following this RFI and feedback phase

partnership opportunitiesrapid prototypingplanned

flight demonstration(s) of new mission payloads

Space Development Agency, request for information (RFI)

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Following the feedback phase, SDA plans to announce a Tranche 4 solicitation that includes production contracts alongside partnership opportunities for rapid prototyping and flight demonstrations of new mission payloads.1

SDA wants input on enhancing the baseline system and on new capabilities that could help detect and track more challenging targets across their full flight trajectories.1

Responses are due by noon Eastern on Dec. 4, 2026. Additional details, mission objectives and architecture information are available upon request.1

Industry responses will inform the scope and design of possible short-term on-orbit demonstrations as well as future Tracking Layer tranches.1

Sources (1)
  1. SDA: Request for Information for Tracking Layer Tranche 4 On-Orbit Demonstrations and Operations www.sda.mil
Story permalink ↗

More from TGOs