After canceling a program to modernize the network of antennas that track and manage Pentagon and other U.S. government satellites, the Space Force has issued a notice to industry seeking input on what existing infrastructure might be available to meet that need.
The shift in acquisition strategy for the Satellite Communications Augmentation Resource program, or SCAR, comes amid a push from defense officials to buy more commercial systems. The request for information, released March 28, is considered “controlled unclassified information,” and the public posting doesn’t provide much detail on the Space Force’s new approach but notes that the effort will include “several” increments.
“The United States Space Force (USSF) is seeking information from industry on currently deployed satellite communication antenna systems that can provide high-gain, low-latency, and reliable communication services for various applications,” the notice states. “The purpose of this notice is to assess the current state of system technology, maturity, and availability to inform current and future USSF Programs.”
The legacy Satellite Control Network is comprised of 19 antennas dispersed around the globe that track and maneuver satellites and collect data about their health and status. They also support spacecraft launch and early checkout and provide emergency support for operators. SCN demand from Defense Department and other federal agencies has grown significantly in recent years, and according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report, utilization rates have surpassed the industry standard for the last decade. Meanwhile, the network is aging and Space Force officials have indicated the capacity of the current architecture may not be sufficient to meet the military’s needs during a conflict.
To provide that expanded capacity while modernizing the existing network, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office in 2022 awarded Blue Halo, now part of AeroVironment, a $1.4 billion contract to build and deliver 12 multibeam, phased-array antennas through the SCAR program. The systems were scheduled to be delivered by the early 2030s, and the Space Force projected the acquisition would increase communications capacity for satellites in geosynchronous orbit tenfold.
But last month, after working with AeroVironment to renegotiate the terms of its SCAR contract, the Space Force opted to cancel the contract and instead launch a new competition that leverages commercial systems rather than one with a bespoke, Space Force-centric design. AeriVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi disclosed the cancellation during the company’s March 10 earnings call, describing it as a positive development for both parties. SpaceNews first reported on the cancellation.
“It achieves their objective and it achieves our objective,” Nawabi said. “Obviously, we’re not happy that we’re taking a hit in the short term, but it is a very good option for us long term, and we’re committed to it. My personal commitment and confidence in this solution set is stronger than before, and I believe if we had a commercial offering today, we would be selling it now.”
The company plans to compete for the new contract, and Nawabi said it will take about 12 to 18 months for the firm to rework its business and scaling model for the radar, which it calls Badger. Importantly, he noted that the transition will not require major changes to the radar’s technology.
“We have very compelling, differentiated solutions and technology,” he said. “We’re trying to change the business model and the go-to-market strategy with our customers in the market on how we price these, how we offer this, and how we actually want to build the business going forward and scale it.”
A Space Force spokesperson declined to provide more details on the new strategy for SCAR or the timeline for restarting competition, and the RFI doesn’t shed light on those plans.
USSF officials began to indicate a shift in their Satellite Control Network modernization strategy last year, when the service announced plans to prototype a new cloud-based Joint Antenna Marketplace, or JAM, designed to connect satellite operations centers with commercial and government antennas and expand the reach of the existing SCN.
In a House Armed Services Committee hearing last May, just after announcing the new marketplace, then-acting space acquisition executive Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy indicated that he was disappointed with SCAR’s progress, telling lawmakers it was moving too slow. JAM, he said, offers a “backup plan” for SCAR and will augment the network while the Space Force waits for SCAR antennas to field.
The Space Force awarded contracts to two companies, Auria and Sphinx Defense, to develop a prototype for the cloud-based marketplace. In August, Space Systems Command used the JAM prototype to demonstrate real-time contacts between a Space Development Agency satellite operations center and one of SDA’s on-orbit satellites. During the demonstration, SSC and the Space RCO leveraged the Naval Research Laboratory’s Transmit/Receive Enterprise service, or TREx, which provides a similar capability as the SCN but with both government and commercial antennas. TREx management has since transitioned from the Naval Research Lab to SSC.
“By connecting SDA’s operations centers through JAM commercial antennas, SSC is helping ensure operators can leverage commercial systems for scalable, resilient communications and data delivery to the warfighter,” the service said at the time. “This early operational capability allows SDA to meet immediate needs while future prototypes mature.”
Along with SCAR and JAM, the Space Force is also looking to other government partners to augment the Satellite Control Network. Breaking Defense reported last September that the service will leverage excess capacity from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ground stations.