Viasat has officially selected Rocket Lab to construct the satellite bus for the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global program. This collaboration marks a significant step in the effort to deploy small and agile geosynchronous orbit satellites capable of maintaining secure communications in contested environments.
The project stems from a contract awarded to Viasat in May 2026. Under the terms of the agreement, Rocket Lab will provide its high-performance Lightning spacecraft platform. This bus will host a Viasat dual-band X and Ka-band payload, designed specifically to resist jamming and ensure that U.S. and allied forces remain connected during operations.
Beyond building the hardware, the scope of work includes full integration, testing, and launch services for the satellite. The deal also covers five years of ongoing operations and sustainment, which includes telemetry tracking and cybersecurity support. This partnership aligns with the Space Force objective to move toward a more resilient architecture that relies on scalable, commercial technology rather than solely custom-built assets.
Company leadership highlighted the focus on speed and reliability. By using a pre-existing, vertically integrated platform, the teams aim to shorten production timelines while meeting national security requirements. This effort represents a shift toward more flexible space assets that can adapt to evolving tactical needs across the globe.