WASHINGTON — Satellite communications startup Astranis has won a $13.2 million contract to make its communications satellites compatible with military terminals, the U.S. Space Force announced Sept. 19.
The San Francisco-based firm, which builds small geostationary satellites for internet connectivity, received the contract through a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) agreement. This type of agreement is used by the military to help small businesses transition technologies from research and development to production.
The contract is being funded through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, with additional support from U.S. Space Command and the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
The funding will enable Astranis to add military Ka frequency compatibility to its next-generation Omega satellites.
“This jointly-funded Strategic Funding Increase will have support from Space Systems Command, SpaceWERX, and other venture capital sources,” the Space Systems Command said in a statement.
Compatibility with existing satcom terminals
The Omega satellite, Astranis’ next-generation geostationary communications platform, is designed to compete in military satellite communications programs such as the Protected Tactical Satcom – Global (PTS-G) program. It aims to provide more cost-effective and flexible options compared to traditional large GEO satellites.
Ka-band compatibility would allow Astranis’ satellites to be accessed by existing Department of Defense ground equipment, supporting high-capacity communications.
Charlotte Gerhart, director of tactical satcom acquisition at the Space Systems Command, said the agreement also requires Astranis to design the Omega satellite to support the military’s Protected Tactical Waveform. This waveform is designed to ensure communications in contested environments where electronic jammers might target U.S. communications.
“These modifications will be tested through ground demonstration activities,” Gerhart added.
