U.S. Military Chooses Kratos for $579 Million SATCOM Contract
Dec 23, 2023
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a leading provider of military satellite communications systems and technical services, has secured an 8-year, $579 million contract extension from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to continue supporting ground systems for key U.S. military communications satellites.
Artist rendering of the U.S. Space Force’s Advanced High Frequency communications satellite. Credit: Lockheed Martin
The agreement, known as the Command-and-Control System-Consolidated Sustainment and Resiliency (C-SAR) contract, runs through November 2031 and involves sustaining infrastructure and developing new capabilities for satellite constellations that transmit secure, strategic communications for U.S. armed forces and government agencies.
The extended C-SAR contract tasks Kratos with maintaining the ground stations and networking equipment that control legacy satellites such as the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III and Milstar networks, along with next-generation systems including the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected tactical waveform satellites and Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) high-capacity broadband constellation. This encompasses network operations, information assurance, IT upgrades, integration of future satellite programs, and ongoing modernization initiatives to ensure continuity for critical military communications relayed via space.
According to George Gonzales, program director at the Space Systems Command’s military satellite communications office, the agreement with Kratos supports command-and-control links and ground system interoperability for 26 military satellites across 4 distinct constellations. By leveraging their technical expertise under this contract, Kratos will help implement infrastructure improvements and technology refreshes needed to sustain decades-old legacy satellite networks while also boosting flexibility to incorporate new space-based capabilities as they come online.
The extended C-SAR contract positions Kratos as a foundational partner enabling the Space Force and U.S. Space Command to harness their satellite fleets for tactical communications, early warning, and other integral operations. With skilled technicians and engineers based at Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, Kratos can continue providing specialized sustainment, cybersecurity, integration, and development services required to keep pace with America’s evolving military space architecture.
After a competitive bidding process, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions emerged as the sole contract awardee based on its proven track record and specialized skillset supporting U.S. national security space assets. By retaining Kratos as the ground systems integrator for these vital satellites through 2031, the Space Force aims to maintain continuity for strategic communications while exploring upgrades to bolster network resilience and next-generation capability.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is a company headquartered in San Diego, California. It was founded in 1994 and is a leading provider of advanced engineering, technology, and defense services. The company specializes in areas such as unmanned systems, satellite communications, cybersecurity, missile defense, and training systems.
The CEO of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is Eric M. DeMarco, who has been leading the company since 2004. Under his guidance, Kratos has grown and established itself as a trusted partner for various government and commercial customers in the defense and security sectors. The company’s innovative solutions and expertise have made it a key player in supporting critical missions and addressing complex challenges faced by the military, intelligence agencies, and other organizations requiring advanced defense capabilities.
