Boeing receives a contract to build the 12th Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) communications satellite. Photo: Boeing

U.S. Space Force‘s Space Systems Command awarded Boeing a contract worth $439.6 million to build the 12th Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) communications satellite. The U.S. Department of Defense announced the contract on March 1. The satellite is expected to be delivered by Jan. 31, 2029. 

Boeing is the prime contractor for the WGS satellites, which provide broadband communications connectivity for U.S. military and allies. There are 10 satellites currently on orbit, and Boeing is currently building WGS-11 at its El Segundo, California site.

The satellite will provide connectivity via the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) ground system and enhanced anti-jam communications using the U.S. military’s jam-resistant Protected Tactical Waveform with antenna nulling in the Ka-band.

Boeing said the anti-jam capability of the company’s new Protected Tactical Satcom Prototype payload will also be integrated on WGS-12, providing a second Protected Wideband Satellite to the U.S. military, and expanding anti-jam communications. 

“We are proud to be a mission partner and are ready to continue providing protected tactical communications to the warfighter,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “Like WGS-11, the 12th WGS satellite will provide critical capabilities to our military ensuring tactical forces have resilient communications.”