Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a $450 million ceiling by the U.S. Space Force's (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). Under the contract, Viasat will support the design, fielding, sustainment and operations of the Space Data Network Backbone (SDN-B) mission operations center (MOC) under government direction. SDN-B is a multi-vendor data transport architecture designed to provide resilient, high-capacity, low-latency data transport supporting U.S. Space Force, Golden Dome for America and Joint Force operations worldwide.
The Viasat award includes an initial $115 million Task Order award to support development and scaling of the MOC and associated network operations capability.
Key Contract Scope:
Viasat will apply its extensive heritage in operating secure, global satellite networks to deliver robust enterprise-level integration for the USSF:
- Systems Engineering & Integration — Viasat will support systems engineering and integration for the space-to-ground interface to support multi-orbit connectivity services.
- Enterprise Network Operations — The team is establishing a network operations infrastructure to support data transport management in accordance with Government-directed mission priorities.
- Common Operational Picture (COP) — The MOC will support a common operational picture of network health, status, and performance.
- Life-Cycle Sustainment — The effort includes engineering and sustainment support consistent with Government requirements and future task orders to support availability, resilience, and cybersecurity requirements.
Viasat will use its experience operating secure, large-scale satellite communications networks to support a mission operations capability that integrates and manages participating connectivity services under Government direction. Viasat will provide systems engineering, integration, sustainment, and operational support for the MOC. The MOC is intended to support data transport management for participating SDN-B elements to support a common operational picture, in accordance with Government-directed mission priorities.
“The Space Data Network Backbone represents a critical leap forward toward a unified, highly resilient and interconnected military space architecture. We are proud to support SSC as the network and mission system integration partner for the MOC effort,” said Craig Miller, President of Viasat Government. “This award leverages Viasat’s deep experience operating complex, mission-critical networks. By bringing commercial scale and dual-use innovative technology to support Government capability delivery, we are committed to supporting the Space Force’s effort to field secure, high-capacity data transport for current and future defense missions."
The effort support SSC’s broader approach to integrating commercial technologies within an open architecture. By developing mission and network integration tools, Viasat will support resilient data transport for Joint Force operations. Through this contract, Viasat will support the development of a network management framework and resilient network operations support, monitoring, and sustainment for the MOC in support of evolving Space Force and Joint Force requirements.
This contract aligns with broader Department of War initiatives to strengthen warfighting and homeland defense capabilities through resilient, space-based communication architectures. By securing data transport and integrating multi-domain capabilities, resilient space-tier networks serve as the essential command-and-control backbone for national security. Seamlessly fusing data from orbit to the tactical edge ensures that national defense systems can rapidly detect, track, and intercept modern aerial and missile threats.