The U.S. Space Force has awarded The Boeing Company a contract valued at up to $2.0 billion to design and build two next-generation narrowband communications satellites for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). This award, announced on June 24, 2026, marks the culmination of the competitive MUOS Service Life Extension (SLE) Phase II acquisition and will extend the operational lifespan of the military’s premier global narrowband communications network to 2035 (Space Systems Command, 2026).
The MUOS SLE program addresses the approaching end-of-service life for existing satellites, proactively preventing a communications gap for warfighters. The two new space vehicles, designated SV 6 and SV 7, are planned for launch no earlier than 2031 and 2032. They will directly support warfighters by extending the system’s Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) capability, ensuring continuity of operations for current and planned radio terminals (Space Systems Command, 2026).
MUOS Program Evolution and Competitive Landscape
The MUOS constellation operates as a global, space-based cellular network providing secure Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) connectivity. The system is particularly valued because UHF signals can penetrate foliage, urban environments, and severe weather conditions, enabling reliable beyond-line-of-sight communications for highly mobile forces (Erwin, 2026).
The U.S. Navy originally developed MUOS to replace the Cold War-era UHF Follow-On constellation, with Lockheed Martin serving as the prime contractor for the first five satellites launched between 2012 and 2016. Responsibility for the MUOS constellation formally transferred from the Navy to the Space Force in 2023 (Easley, 2026).
Following the transfer, the Space Force initiated the MUOS SLE program. In January 2024, both Boeing and Lockheed Martin were awarded $66 million contracts for Phase 1, covering preliminary design and risk-reduction work. Boeing’s successful bid for Phase II unseats the incumbent prime contractor, though Boeing has longstanding heritage with the program, having developed and delivered the payloads for the current MUOS constellation (Hitchens, 2026).
Boeing will build the new MUOS satellites on its flight-proven 702MP spacecraft platform, a medium-power geostationary satellite bus introduced in 2009. The company’s approach aims to increase communications capacity, reduce interference, and improve connectivity while leveraging an active production line for schedule predictability (Erwin, 2026).
Space Force Budget Trajectory and Space Defense Spending
The MUOS SLE contract award occurs against a backdrop of significant expansion in U.S. military space spending. For fiscal year 2027, the administration has requested $71.1 billion for the Space Force, representing a 124% increase from the FY2026 enacted budget of $31.6 billion. This includes $13.8 billion in planned FY2026 spending designated through the reconciliation act (Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, 2026; Wilson, 2025).
The FY2027 budget request emphasizes substantial investments in satellite communications and missile warning architectures. The proposal allocates $6.7 billion (a 60% increase) for satellite communications and $6.8 billion (a 70% increase) for missile warning and tracking systems (Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, 2026).
Furthermore, the “Golden Dome” initiative, a major focus of the current administration, aims to field a next-generation missile defense shield with a heavy emphasis on space-based sensors and interceptors. The reconciliation act authorizes $15.7 billion in space-focused Golden Dome projects, significantly altering the resource allocation landscape for defense space activities (Wilson, 2025).
Recent Major Space Defense Contracts (2025-2026)
The $2.0 billion MUOS SLE award is part of a broader acceleration in space defense contracting. The table below outlines several major satellite communications and space architecture contracts awarded in the 2025-2026 timeframe:
| Program / Contract | Contractor(s) | Value | Award Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (PWSA) | Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris | ~$3.5 Billion (total) | Dec 2025 | 72 satellites for missile warning/tracking and defense in LEO (Space Development Agency, 2025). |
| Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) | Boeing | $2.8 Billion | Jul 2025 | First two satellites to replace Advanced EHF for NC3 mission (Space Systems Command, 2025). |
| Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone | SpaceX | $2.29 Billion | May 2026 | Proliferated LEO constellation for secure, high-speed global data transport (Space Systems Command, 2026). |
| MUOS Service Life Extension | Boeing | $2.0 Billion | Jun 2026 | Two narrowband communications satellites extending constellation to 2035 (Space Systems Command, 2026). |
| Protected Tactical SATCOM - Global (PTS-G) | Viasat, Intelsat General Communications | $437.7 Million | Jun 2026 | First two operational satellites utilizing Protected Tactical Waveform (Space Systems Command, 2026). |
| Enhanced PTS-Prototype | Northrop Grumman | $398 Million | May 2026 | Prototype satellite to demonstrate anti-jamming technologies (Erwin, 2026). |
Boeing’s Expanding Space Portfolio
Boeing’s success in securing the MUOS SLE contract aligns with the company’s strategic push to scale its space production. Alongside its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems, Boeing is broadening its satellite portfolio to meet growing demand across defense and commercial markets. The company has introduced the “Resolute” platform, a new mid-class satellite designed for multi-orbit missions that require more capability than small satellites but greater speed and flexibility than traditional large programs (Boeing, 2026).
Supported by investments in common products and repeatable manufacturing approaches, Boeing is targeting 26 satellite deliveries in 2026. The MUOS SLE award, combined with the $2.8 billion ESS contract awarded in July 2025, solidifies Boeing’s position as a primary provider of critical strategic and tactical communications infrastructure for the U.S. Space Force (Boeing, 2026; Space Systems Command, 2025).
References
- Boeing. (2026, April 15). Boeing, Millennium scale production for growing space demand. Boeing, Millennium scale production for growing space demand
- Easley, M. (2026, June 24). Boeing awarded $2B deal to build next-gen comms sats for Space Force. DefenseScoop. Boeing awarded $2B deal to build next-gen comms sats for Space Force | DefenseScoop
- Erwin, S. (2026, May 16). Space Force awards Northrop Grumman $398 million satellite contract. SpaceNews. Space Force awards Northrop Grumman $398 million satellite contract - SpaceNews
- Erwin, S. (2026, June 24). Boeing wins $2 billion Space Force contract for communications satellites. SpaceNews. Boeing wins $2 billion Space Force contract for communications satellites - SpaceNews
- Erwin, S. (2026, June 25). Space Force’s new MUOS satellites to use Boeing’s 702MP spacecraft platform. SpaceNews. Space Force's new MUOS satellites to use Boeing's 702MP spacecraft platform - SpaceNews
- Hitchens, T. (2026, June 24). Boeing wins $2B Space Force contract for 2 new MUOS satellites. Breaking Defense. Boeing wins $2B Space Force contract for 2 new MUOS satellites - Breaking Defense
- Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. (2026, April 21). Budget request directs record $338.8 billion to Air Force and Space Force to meet “challenges of today and tomorrow”. U.S. Space Force. https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4465543/budget-request-directs-record-3388-billion-to-air-force-and-space-force-to-meet/
- Space Development Agency. (2025, December 19). Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3. Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 – Space Development Agency
- Space Systems Command. (2025, July 3). Space Systems Command Awards $2.8B Contract to Deliver the First Two Satellites for Modernized Strategic Communication Capabilities. U.S. Space Force. https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4235257/space-systems-command-awards-28b-contract-to-deliver-the-first-two-satellites-f
- Space Systems Command. (2026, May 26). U.S. Space Force Advances Space Data Network Backbone for Global Warfighter Connectivity. U.S. Space Force. https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4500761/us-space-force-advances-space-data-network-backbone-for-global-warfighter-conne
- Space Systems Command. (2026, June 9). U.S. Space Force advances satellite communications modernization, awards contracts for first global protected tactical constellation. U.S. Space Force. https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4512873/us-space-force-advances-satellite-communications-modernization-awards-contracts
- Space Systems Command. (2026, June 24). Space Force extends MUOS constellation to support worldwide tactical communications with procurement of two satellites. U.S. Space Force. https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4525473/space-force-extends-muos-constellation-to-support-worldwide-tactical-communicat
- Wilson, R. S. (2025, August). FY 2026 Defense Space Budget: Emergence of Golden Dome. Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation. https://csps.aerospace.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/FY26BudgetBrief_20250805.pdf
*AI generated