U.S. Air Force satellite services contract awarded to Iridium
NewsSeptember 16, 2019
MCLEAN, Va. Iridium Communications Inc. announced that it has been awarded a $738.5 million, seven-year, fixed-price contract with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) through the U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSpC) to provide unlimited satellite services from its unique Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.
Through what is known as the AFSpC's Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) program, Iridium will continue to deliver access to global secure and unsecure voice, broadcast, netted or Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS), and select other services for an unlimited number of DoD and associated DoD-approved subscribers.
According to the company, Iridium and the DoD have developed an operational environment that provides the critical network transparency and collaboration to enable execution of the warfighter's mission. Iridium was one of the initial six industry participants in the Commercial Integration Cell (CIC) to engage with the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC) in an effort to improve information sharing and network situational awareness as the DoD continues its use of commercial satellite networks.
