On Thursday, October 15, 2026, defense prime contractor BAE Systems announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) to design and demonstrate ultra-compact radio-frequency (RF) terminals for a space-based data layer.
Under the development agreement, BAE Systems will engineer compact, flight-qualified RF terminals to establish resilient space-to-space and space-to-ground communications across multiple orbital regimes.
Military Space Relay Architecture and Defense Contracting Context
The SSC contract integrates into the Department of Defense’s broader initiative to build an interconnected, jam-resistant data transport layer across defense and allied space assets. As modern contested environments experience intensified electronic warfare and counterspace threats, the Space Force is accelerating investments in tactical communications hardware capable of maintaining uninterrupted crosslinks.
The terminal development award builds upon BAE Systems’ expanding portfolio of national security space programs for the Space Force. Earlier this year, BAE Systems advanced work as prime contractor for the Resilient Missile Warning & Tracking satellite constellation in Medium Earth Orbit and delivered sensor flight hardware for the Space Force’s Next-Generation Polar missile-warning spacecraft. By extending its space hardware into high-density RF crosslink terminals, BAE Systems aims to bridge multi-orbit constellations with tactical user segments.
Terminal Specifications and Radiation-Hardened Architecture
BAE Systems’ solution utilizes its family of space-hardened software-defined radios (SDRs), designed to maintain reliable communications through severe electromagnetic interference, active adversary jamming, and cosmic radiation belts. Key engineering characteristics include:
- Multi-Orbit Operational Range: Designed to support communications and data relay across diverse orbital tiers, spanning from low Earth orbit (LEO) out to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO).
- Miniaturized SWaP Profile: Compact form factor optimized to minimize size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), enabling integration aboard space-constrained small satellites as well as large prime mission spacecraft.
- Dynamic Inter-Payload Pointing: Utilizes an open Application Programming Interface (API) to direct rapid, precise beam-steering and terminal pointing between communicating orbital payloads.
- Qualification Standards: Systems will undergo rigorous space-characterization testing to satisfy military-grade encryption, cybersecurity, and environmental hardening baselines.
Executive Perspective on Space Resiliency
Company leadership emphasized the operational necessity of survivable communications hardware in orbit.
“This contract leverages decades of experience delivering mission-critical, radiation-hardened hardware and communications systems – from Apollo-era programs to today’s deep-space and airborne missions,” said Joe Dziezynski, Space Systems product line director at BAE Systems. “Our resilient design and established manufacturing capacity will enable rapid deployment and scalable production, supporting the Space Force’s vital mission to enhance global security.”
Demonstration Schedule and High-Rate Production Roadmap
Under the initial development phase, BAE Systems will collaborate with Space Systems Command technical teams to construct, test, and demonstrate prototype RF flight terminals in simulated orbital environments. The testing will validate open API command sequences, multi-band frequency agility, and crosslink acquisition timelines.
Following ground characterization and initial demonstration milestones, BAE Systems is preparing its production facilities for scalable manufacturing to support high-rate procurement for future Department of War operational constellations.