The Space Force has selected Boeing for the ESS program, which will be the cornerstone of US strategic satellite communications until 2033.
The US Space Force has awarded Boeing a $2.8 billion contract to develop two initial satellites for the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) program. The program aims to replace the existing AEHF constellation while strengthening the cybersecurity and resilience of the Pentagon’s strategic communications. Two additional satellites may be ordered. The contract, which is part of an overall program estimated at $11.1 billion, excludes Northrop Grumman, despite its involvement in the prototypes. The ESS program is also gradually replacing the PTS-R project in favor of a modular approach that is faster to deploy and focused on countering jamming.
A strategic contract for military communications resilience
On July 4, 2025, the Space Force confirmed that it had awarded Boeing a $3 billion contract to launch the initial phase of the ESS program. This initiative aims to replace the AEHF (Advanced Extremely High Frequency) constellation, operational since 2010, which currently provides strategic military communications for the United States.
The contract covers the delivery of two ESS satellites by 2033, with an option for two additional satellites. It is part of a broader $11.1 billion program that includes major technical improvements, particularly in the areas of embedded cybersecurity, resistance to electronic attacks, and communication in contested environments.
According to Boeing, the system is based on an innovative architecture adapted to an increasingly degraded space environment, marked by increased jamming, cyberattacks, and denial-of-access risks. The goal is to ensure uninterrupted connectivity between strategic command centers and operational forces, even in major conflict situations.
Boeing’s selection is all the more significant given that Northrop Grumman, which had been awarded a prototype contract in 2020, has ultimately been excluded from the deployment contract. The Space Force is favoring an approach focused on long-term operational robustness.
A new architecture for high-level communications protection
The ESS program plans a radical modernization of strategic military communications, with the integration of recent technologies. Unlike the AEHF system, whose satellites were based on a more rigid architecture, the ESS will adopt a modular approach.
Each ESS satellite will be equipped with jamming-resistant payloads, next-generation cryptography systems, and adaptive processors capable of isolating attempts at disruption. The aim is to enhance active redundancy and enable dynamic reallocation of orbital and frequency resources.
The ESS program also includes satellites adapted to Arctic regions, where AEHF coverage is partial. This reflects the evolution of the US strategy toward projecting military capabilities in high latitudes in response to Russian and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic.
On the industrial front, Boeing will be responsible for the design, integration, and testing of these platforms. The launch date has not been set, but the schedule calls for initial service to begin around 2030. Until then, the AEHF satellites will remain operational in parallel.
Abandonment of the PTS-R program and shift to a modular SATCOM strategy
In parallel with the ESS contract, the Space Force has confirmed the cancellation of the PTS-R (Protected Tactical SATCOM-Resilient) program. Initiated to provide tactical anti-jamming communications, it is considered too rigid and incompatible with the deadlines imposed by the geostrategic context.
The current SATCOM strategy is moving towards a “family of systems” comprising satellites with variable capacities, rapid deployment, and complementary capabilities. The Protected Tactical Waveform program is therefore becoming the priority for providing secure connectivity in theaters of operations.
This change reduces costs, limits technological dependencies, and offers operational deployment agility in the face of electronic or cyber attacks. It provides for the integration of modules such as PTS-Global, Enterprise Management and Control, and Anti-Jam Modem for ground and air forces.
The PTS prototypes, funded before 2023, will still be launched to validate technical components and possibly integrate them into the future ESS architecture.
Strategic consequences for the US military space sector
The award of the ESS contract to Boeing is reshaping the highly secure military space landscape in the US. By 2033, the Pentagon will have a modern constellation capable of responding to multi-domain threats. The abandonment of PTS-R confirms the Space Force’s desire to move away from long cycles and accelerate the pace of integration.
The contract strengthens Boeing’s position against Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. It also challenges industry standards in favor of more modular solutions that are quicker to validate and less risky on a large scale.
Finally, it is part of a broader strategy of international cooperation, with references to the British Skynet architecture and NATO systems. The US objective is clear: to guarantee information superiority in contested environments, regardless of the operational theater.
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