SES Space & Defense, the American arm of Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, announced on July 24 that it has secured a $3.6 million contract to provide satellite communication services to the U.S. Army.
This contract is part of a pilot program launched by the Army last September to explore a new approach: “satcom as a managed service.” This method significantly shifts from traditional military contracts for satellite capacity.
New Approach to Military Satcom
Under this new model, SES will deliver a complete package of services. This includes satellite capacity, ground infrastructure, and network management. It’s a departure from the Army’s usual practice of managing its own satellite communications infrastructure. Instead, SES will handle everything, providing a more streamlined and efficient service.
Two terminal dishes assist Army space soldiers of Alpha Company, 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON) at the Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Center, Fort Detrick. (U.S. Army Garrison – Fort Detrick / DVIDS)
The Army’s Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) announced last year that SES and Intelsat were selected for this pilot program. The goal is to gather data and insights to guide future procurements. If successful, this approach could see broader adoption across the military.
Initially, the contract’s value was not disclosed when the Army announced the selection of SES and Intelsat for the pilot program. Now, it has been revealed that the contract is worth $3.6 million.
SES Commitment
David Fields, president and CEO of SES Space & Defense, expressed enthusiasm about the program. He sees it as a “great opportunity for SES Space & Defense to continue supporting our Army customers, leveraging a true multi-orbit strategy and multi-band satellite fleet.”
SES operates a fleet of over 70 satellites in geostationary and medium Earth orbits. Under this pilot program, SES will support military combatant commands across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions.
The concept of Satcom as a managed service represents a significant shift for the Army. Instead of investing in and managing their own satellite infrastructure, the Army will rely on SES to provide these services. This model aims to offer a more efficient and effective solution for military communications.
