WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin and Boeing are advancing competing designs for next-generation military communications satellites, even as some experts question whether the Pentagon should instead pivot to commercial alternatives.
The defense contractors recently cleared early design reviews for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Service Life Extension program, an estimated $2.5 billion initiative by the U.S. Space Force to modernize its ultra-high frequency narrowband satellite network. Each company received $66 million in January 2024 for the program’s initial phase.
Lockheed Martin, which built the existing five MUOS satellites, announced Feb. 7 it has partnered with SEAKR Engineering, a Raytheon Intelligence & Space subsidiary, to develop a new payload processor. The company says the processor can be reprogrammed while in orbit — a key advancement over the current system — and has achieved Technology Readiness Level-6, indicating readiness for production.
Boeing completed its design review in December, proposing a system based on its 702MP satellite platform, which is already being used for other Space Force communications satellites.
The Space Force is expected to select one contractor for Phase 2, which includes building two satellites scheduled for launch no earlier than 2030.
MUOS provides military users with voice, video and data communications through four operational satellites and one spare in geosynchronous orbit. The U.S. Navy transferred control of the system to the Space Force in March 2023.
The program, meanwhile, faces scrutiny as commercial alternatives emerge. Companies including Starlink, Iridium, Lynk Global and AST SpaceMobile are developing services that would allow standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites — potentially offering a more cost-effective solution for military communications.
Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, argues the Space Force should cancel the MUOS extension program altogether. “Narrowband satellite communications is a mission area that can transition to commercial, where private-sector capacity and performance are far better than MUOS,” Harrison wrote.
Space Force officials said they are evaluating commercial satellite communications services as potential supplements or replacements for systems like MUOS.
