Cordell DeLaPena, program executive officer for military communications and positioning, navigation, and timing at Space Systems Command, said the U.S. Space Force plans to release in January a request for proposals for the space vehicle segment of a potential $8 billion satellite constellation designed to provide nuclear command, control and communications for the U.S. military and command authorities, SpaceNews reported Wednesday.
The constellation, called the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications System, will be a “survivable and jam-resistant satcom capability for the NC3 mission,” DeLaPena said at a confrence.
According to the report, Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) are developing ESS satellite prototypes and are expected to compete for the space vehicle production contract.
DeLaPena noted that SSC expects production work to kick off in 2025 with plans to begin constellation deployment by 2030 to augment a network of Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites.
