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For the first time in its relatively young existence, the Space Force has awarded two contracts for manufacturing and launch of the satellites for its Protected Tactical SATCOM Global program through the use of firm-fixed-price approach with Viasat and Intelsat General Communications.
What is crucial about the acquisition process? While it involves two satellites, the PTS-G architecture is far more important. It allows the force to consider the protected military SATCOM program in light of such aspects as transponding, military Ka-band and X-band payload, geostationary operations, and backward compatibility with Tactical SATCOM terminals.
From a practical standpoint, the architecture means gradual improvement of SATCOM capabilities without giving up everything the service already has. Backward compatibility is the point here. Without it, any new satellites would serve very little purpose because no user could operate them. As a result, many military SATCOM projects were derailed due to the need for ground segment technology changes. According to the Space Force, backward compatibility with legacy terminals is the easiest way to let current users continue using old satellites until the moment they are ready to make a leap toward modernization.
Transponding is another interesting feature of this architecture. Instead of relying on the more complicated onboard processing architecture, the swarm will feature a worldwide transponded communications system with the ability to support Protected Tactical Waveform and non-PTW waveforms. Technically, it gives many possibilities to this kind of system since it can continue supporting current users who operate non-PTW waveforms while introducing the possibility of a protected communication capability at the same time.
Thus, in practice, the Space Force won’t be considering the first batch of PTS-G satellites as an ultimate solution for SATCOM problems, but rather as an intermediate product which will allow it to have sufficient protection, support for legacy SATCOM technologies, and commercial competition necessary to ensure smooth satellite deliveries.
The choice of frequency bands is also a key element. Dedicated military Ka-band and X-band payloads which will be used for Swarm 1 are a guarantee that the satellites are going to be two-frequency band spacecraft providing additional capabilities for legacy military SATCOM and improving operational flexibility. Thus, Swarm 1 becomes just another component of the whole system.
It is impossible to ignore the approach which the procurement organizations are employing. They pointed to commercial competition, faster delivery, and lower cost compared to a conventional SATCOM acquisition path involving single vendor and single architectural solutions. PTS-G will be “a pivotal element” in creating a more resilient SATCOM architecture, according to Erin Carper, the acting portfolio acquisition executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing.
As the system program director for Tactical SATCOM at SSC’s System Delta 88 explained, the contract awards were made in accordance with our acquisition strategy that emphasizes flexibility, support of the industrial base, and affordable options for delivering new capability. The point is crucial because it implies that the Space Force is treating PTS-G not only as a procurement program, but also as a chance to figure out how to obtain protected communications capability from the industry.
It is also important to take a look at the background of Swarm 1’s creation. According to the information published in 2025, the Protected Tactical SATCOM family of systems acquisition strategy created by the Space Systems Command had been designed to bind costs and technical risks and bring incremental capabilities earlier. Swarm 1 perfectly matches this goal because it offers a relatively simple and affordable near-term solution compared to more sophisticated concepts with a lot of development ahead of it.
For U.S. audiences interested in military space initiatives, the implications are obvious: the award of two PTS-G satellites reflects the Space Force’s efforts to demonstrate its capabilities to introduce satellite communications gradually. In other words, it’s not just a hardware procurement program, but rather a project aimed at obtaining an operational protected SATCOM system comprising several elements including manufacturing and delivery of spacecraft and establishment of protected communications design.
If Swarm 1 demonstrates the efficiency expected, the significance of the program will come into view. Namely, it will allow the Space Force to demonstrate the fact that satellite communications’ protective upgrade path can be obtained through the application of commercially competitive procurement practices without abandoning legacy connectivity.
David Whitaker is an associate editor for aerospace and drone systems. He specializes in translating flight systems and UAV developments into technical stories.
