The Astranis Omega satellite. Photo: Astranis

Astranis won a U.S. Space Force contract to add military Ka-band frequency compatibility to its next-generation Omega satellite. 

Space Systems Command (SSC) and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) announced on Sept. 19 the award to Astranis for a $13.2 million contract, with $3.3 million of SSC funding. This jointly-funded strategic funding increase (STRATFI) will have support from Space Systems Command, SpaceWERX, and other venture capital sources.

Astranis announced Omega in April as a more powerful small Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite than the company’s first MicroGEO model. Astranis said that Omega will be able to deliver more than 50 Gbps of throughput per satellite. The first one is set to launch in 2026. 

SSC said this will ensure that Omega enables military Ka-band for compatibility with military user equipment and frequency plans. Astranis will also deliver a hardware design that is capable of supporting Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) operating over their Omega satellite, for anti-jam communications. There will be ground demonstration activities to test the modifications. 

“The targeted mission impact for the Astranis project is to significantly enhance the resiliency of tactical satellite communications for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and USSF for assuring beyond-line-of-site connectivity across warfighters, sensors and weapons systems in contested space, and radio frequency scenarios,” commented Charlotte Gerhart, Director of the Tactical SATCOM Acquisition Delta.