Space Force awards Viasat up to $450 million for SDN-B operations centre

U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded Viasat a contract worth up to $450 million for a Space Data Network-Backbone (SDN-B) Mission Operations Center. The centre is to support future military operations, including missile defence under a contemplated Golden Dome system.

The initial task order is worth $115 million "to design, field, and scale the MOC," SSC said. Viasat will serve as the network and mission system integration partner as SSC expands its open-architecture ecosystem across multiple space-segment providers.

In May, SpaceX received a $2.3 billion contract for SDN-B, and is to deliver an operational prototype capability by the end of next year. York Space Systems said last month it had received two task orders for SDN, a future network of low Earth orbit military communications satellites.

The Space Force budgeted $4.5 billion for SDN in fiscal 2027, the second largest unclassified amount in the service's budget behind the $7.9 billion for Space-Based Air Moving Target Indicator, according to the Aerospace Corporation.

Sourcesatellitetoday.com