SpaceX wins $57M Pentagon space comms contract

SpaceX has been awarded a $57.3 million contract from the U.S. Space Systems Command to develop and demonstrate a new military space communications system. The system will be based on the Link-182 signal, a specialized protocol designed for the MILNET low Earth orbit military satellite network. Unlike standard commercial channels, Link-182 is engineered for direct inter-satellite communication, bypassing ground-based relay infrastructure. The contract stipulates that work must be completed by April 30, 2027.