Lockheed Martin’s sixth AEHF satellite being encapsulated in its protective fairings ahead of March 2020 launch buy ULA. Photo:

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has released a draft solicitation for the future Evolved Strategic Satellite Communication system (ESS) to replace the Lockheed Martin Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) satellites.

SSC did not release the draft at large, but the command said on Oct. 6 that the draft “is in the bidder’s library” and that the release is “solely for information, planning, and market research purposes.” SSC said that it grants access to the library once prospective companies contact the command.

The draft “does not constitute a formal solicitation (RFP) or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future,” the Oct. 6 business notice said. “Interested offerors are invited to submit comments to the government to ensure the draft Request for Proposal is understood and clear for any potential offerors to bid on the work contained.  The government’s intent is to submit an RFP for the work described in the draft RFP.  Any feedback or clarification requested will help the government to ensure that the resultant RFP accurately and clearly describes the intended work to meet the government’s requirements.”

SSC wants industry comments on the draft solicitation by Oct. 17.

The Space Force has said that initial ESS satellites may deploy in fiscal 2030 to achieve an initial operational capability in fiscal 2032. Currently, five Advanced EHF satellites, equipped with Northrop Grumman payloads, provide strategic satcom. The Extended Data Rate Advanced EHF has supplemented the five orbiting Milstar satellites by Lockheed Martin. The latter satellites feature low and medium-data rate communications.

The ESS constellation is to be interoperable with Advanced EHF and eventually replace it.

In Nov. 2020 Lockheed Martin received a $258 million contract to develop a prototype ESS payload. Boeing and Northrop Grumman also received contract awards in 2020.

The Space Force has said that contracts for the full ESS system may be awarded in 2025.

“The ESS space segment is leveraging a Middle-Tier Acquisition down-select rapid prototyping contract for the ESS payload and spacecraft bus, with Boeing and Northrop Grumman in a side-by-side competition until Fiscal Year 25,” SSC said in May.

This story was first published by Defense Daily