Boeing Wins $2B Space Force Contract for MUOS Satellites

The U.S. Space Force has awarded The Boeing Company a contract valued at up to $2 billion to manufacture two new narrowband communications satellites, a procurement designed to extend the operational life of the military’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) constellation through 2035.

Space Systems Command (SSC) announced the award on June 24, 2026, and Boeing confirmed the agreement in a June 25 press release. The contract represents a shift in the program’s industrial base, as Boeing secured the Phase II production order over incumbent Lockheed Martin Corporation, which built the original five MUOS satellites launched between 2012 and 2016.

Modernizing secure military communications

The MUOS constellation provides secure Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) communications for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and allied forces. The system is designed to maintain connectivity in challenging operational environments, including dense urban areas, difficult terrain, and severe weather conditions.

According to reporting by DefenseScoop, the Space Force is transitioning away from legacy user equipment that relied on the Cold War-era Ultra High Frequency Follow-on (UFO) constellation. As a result, the two new Boeing satellites will not carry the legacy UFO payload, allowing the design to focus entirely on modern WCDMA capabilities.

DefenseScoop also cited Erin Carper, Acting Space Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, who stated the award strengthens global communications infrastructure and ensures joint and coalition partners have the tools required for advanced military communications.

Production timeline and constellation extension

Boeing will perform the manufacturing work at its facility in El Segundo, California, utilizing the company’s 702MP medium-class spacecraft platform. The first satellite delivery and earliest launch are scheduled for 2031, with the second satellite slated for launch no earlier than 2032.

“For the people who depend on this connectivity, the need is clear: secure communication that works in demanding conditions,” Sam Greaves, Vice President of Boeing Space Mission Systems, said in the company’s press release. “Our team knows this mission and is ready to help the customer extend and improve a system they count on every day.”

The procurement follows a competitive design phase. Breaking Defense reported that in 2024, the Space Force awarded $66 million Phase 1 design contracts to both Boeing and Lockheed Martin for the MUOS Service Life Extension program. The new satellites, designated Space Vehicles 6 and 7, will sustain the constellation’s capabilities until the military fields a fully next-generation narrowband architecture.

AirPro News analysis

Boeing’s victory in the MUOS Service Life Extension program is a notable disruption of an established incumbent’s position in military space procurement. Lockheed Martin served as the prime contractor for the original MUOS program since 2004, successfully delivering the current operational fleet. By selecting Boeing for Space Vehicles 6 and 7, the Space Force has demonstrated a willingness to leverage competitive prototyping phases to pivot away from legacy providers if a competing design offers a more favorable alignment with current requirements. The decision to omit the legacy UFO payload from these new satellites also highlights a broader Department of Defense strategy to force the retirement of outdated ground equipment and accelerate the adoption of modern, resilient waveforms across the joint force.

Sources: The Boeing Company