General Dynamics and Iridium receive a modification for their SDA proliferated LEO contract. Photo: GDMS

The Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) and Iridium Communications a $491.6 million contract modification for their work to support ground systems for the SDA’s satellite constellation. 

The award is a modification of the GDMS and Iridium contract for the Ground Management and Integration (GMI) program for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The SDA awarded the initial cost-plus contract of $324.5 million in May of 2022. 

Iridium reported in a Tuesday release that the company’s share of the contract is worth $239 million over five years. 

The GDMS-Iridium team will manage integration of the ground enterprise with SDA’s Tranche 2 constellation. This includes all services ranging from engineering design and analysis to testing, maintenance, infrastructure management and site support.

“We are committed to delivering SDA and our warfighters an innovative and effective ground system that leverages the many years of Iridium’s unparalleled commercial LEO development and operations expertise, helping to ensure they are prepared for the challenges of today and the future,” commented Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president of Government Programs for Iridium.