The recent announcement by the U.S. Space Force to award contracts to Intelsat General Communications, an operating division within SES Space and Defense, and Viasat represents more than a significant procurement milestone. It represents a larger transformation in the way military satellite communications are being architected to support operations in increasingly contested environments.
Reliable information access is essential to modern military operations, but adversaries are making significant investments in capabilities designed to disrupt communications through jamming, cyberattacks, and other electronic warfare tactics. As a result, resilience is becoming one of the key requirements for the next generation of space architecture.
The PTS-G program reflects this shift. Rather than relying on a limited number of large satellites, the Space Force is pursuing a distributed “swarm” architecture consisting of multiple smaller spacecraft operating together from GEO orbit. According to Space News, the plan calls for the initial “Swarm 1” deployment, which will include four satellites, where each company is expected to provide two spacecraft. This approach is designed to ensure that communications are maintained even if individual satellites are degraded or disrupted, providing forces with secure, protected connectivity.
The award highlights the growing role that commercial satellite operators are playing in advancing national security objectives. Industry partners can help accelerate capability delivery while maintaining the performance and protection standards necessary for mission-critical operations by utilizing commercial innovation and decades of operational experience.
As David Broadbent, President and CEO of SES Space and Defense, shared, “Winning the PTS-G contract marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution from satellite communications provider to trusted partner for resilient, multi-mission space solutions. With 60 years of history supporting the U.S. Government, we are proud to partner with the Space Force to deliver this critical capability for the future.”
Broadbent’s comments reflect a larger trend across the defense space industry. The conversation is no longer focused on bandwidth and coverage: the conversation is now on building architectures that can support a growing range of missions worldwide while maintaining operations despite being under attack.
As the Space Force continues to modernize its satellite communications infrastructure, programs like the PTS-G demonstrate how government and industry are collaborating to create more resilient, flexible, and secure networks.
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