U.S. Space Force Seeks Compact Radios for Golden Dome Missile Defense
The U.S. Space Force is seeking innovative solutions for inter-satellite communication, aiming to bolster its Golden Dome missile defense shield. A recent Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) has opened a competition for compact radio-frequency (RF) terminals, capable of operating in the L- and S-band spectrum and using the Link-182 waveform.
The planned demonstration involves establishing satellite-to-satellite links between a government-owned communications satellite and a mock space-based interceptor. The radios must be space-qualified, carry Type-1 encryption, and operate across orbits ranging from low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). They are intended for use in military and commercial applications, providing reliable signals in contested or degraded environments.
The competition, supported by the Space Systems Command (SSC), seeks low size, weight, and power (SWaP) radios. These should be capable of demonstrating a LEO-to-LEO space-to-space communications link within 12 months and developing an Application Programming Interface (API) for payload pointing. The Link-182 waveform, developed for the MILNET low-Earth orbit satellite communications system, will be employed.
The government envisions these radios to be manufactured at scale, up to 10,000 units, within two to five years. This points to the potential of Golden Dome as a large-scale missile defense architecture. Currently, there is no public information about specific companies participating in the development of these terminals.
The U.S. Space Force's procurement arm has opened this competition to advance inter-satellite communication capabilities, crucial for the Golden Dome missile defense shield. Companies are invited to submit white papers by October 6, with the aim of demonstrating their solutions on-orbit within a year. The successful development of these compact RF terminals could significantly enhance the U.S. Space Force's communication and defense capabilities in space.
