Boeing Wins US$2 Billion US Space Force Satellite Contract

The US Space Force has awarded a contract valued at up to US$2 billion to Boeing for the next phase of the Mobile User Objective System Service Life Extension (MUOS SLE) program. Under the agreement, Boeing will develop and deliver two narrowband communications satellites to sustain and enhance secure military communications for global users operating on land, at sea, and in the air. Boeing secured the contract after competing with Lockheed Martin.

The first satellite under the MUOS SLE program is scheduled for delivery in 2031. The program is designed to support military personnel operating in demanding environments where reliable communications are difficult to maintain. The narrowband satellites will prioritize secure voice transmission and essential field data.

Boeing will use its ultra-high-frequency (UHF) communications technology for the payloads. UHF signals can maintain connectivity in difficult terrain, dense urban environments, and severe weather conditions where other communication links often degrade. The approach is intended to increase overall communications capacity, reduce signal interference, and improve connectivity for global military operations into the next decade.

The new satellites will be built on Boeing’s 702MP medium-class satellite platform, designed for high-capacity, high-performance communications. Boeing is leveraging an active production line for the 702MP spacecraft, having recently delivered multiple satellites using this platform since the fourth quarter of 2025.

Boeing previously developed and delivered the payloads for the current MUOS satellite constellation. Company executives said the new award builds on that existing operational experience and production infrastructure.

“We are grateful for the trust the US Space Force has placed in our team for a capability that matters to military users around the world,” said Sam Greaves, vice president, Boeing Space Mission Systems. “For the people who depend on this connectivity, the need is clear: secure communication that works in demanding conditions. Our team knows this mission and is ready to help the customer extend and improve a system they rely on every day.”

Ryan Reid, senior director of Space Communications Programs, Boeing, noted that the active 702MP production line provides immediate execution momentum for the program.

“This award reflects both our deep UHF heritage and the trust we have built supporting this critical national security mission,” Reid said. “When military users are operating in the most demanding conditions, this narrowband capability is their lifeline. By building on our active 702MP spacecraft production line, we bring execution speed, proven reliability, and schedule predictability to the US Space Force.”