U.S. Space Force Strengthens Military Satellite Communications Against Jamming and Electronic Warfare.

The U.S. Space Force is strengthening military satellite communications against electronic warfare by developing ultra-compact radio-frequency terminals that maintain secure data links despite jamming, electromagnetic interference, and space radiation. BAE Systems has been selected to design and demonstrate the new equipment, which will use space-hardened software-defined radios to support resilient communications across multiple orbital environments.

A U.S. Space Force technician operates a satellite communications antenna terminal at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The service is developing new compact, jam-resistant communications terminals to strengthen the resilience of military space networks. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)

The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded the contract for terminals intended for a space-based data layer. The development could improve the resilience of military communications networks that support satellite operations, intelligence distribution, and command-and-control activities in contested space environments.

The new terminals will build on BAE Systems' existing family of space-hardened software-defined radios, which are designed to withstand the demanding electromagnetic and radiation conditions encountered during space missions. Unlike conventional radios built around relatively fixed hardware configurations, software-defined radios perform key signal-processing functions through programmable components, allowing communications capabilities to be adapted through software rather than extensive hardware modifications.

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BAE Systems formally announced the contract on October 15, 2026, outlining plans to develop and demonstrate compact communications terminals capable of operating in challenging space environments. The company has not disclosed the specific anti-jamming techniques, operating frequencies, transmission rates, or interference levels the terminals must withstand.

For the U.S. Space Force, this approach could help maintain communications as operating conditions and mission requirements change. The proposed terminals are intended to function in degraded electromagnetic environments, including situations involving deliberate electronic interference.

A central feature of the proposed equipment is its ability to support operations across different orbital regimes, from low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). These environments present different communications challenges because of their substantial differences in orbital altitude, relative movement, transmission distance, and radiation exposure. Equipment that supports multiple orbital environments could provide greater flexibility when integrating future military satellite networks.

Low Earth orbit satellites can offer shorter communication paths and reduced signal-propagation delays, making them valuable for rapid information exchange across distributed satellite constellations. Geosynchronous satellites, operating at much greater distances, can maintain persistent coverage of broad geographical regions. Developing compact terminals for both environments could help the Space Force connect different elements of its space communications architecture, although it has not disclosed the specific network configuration.

BAE Systems also plans to incorporate military-grade security features and conduct space-characterization testing to assess whether the equipment can operate under the environmental conditions associated with orbital deployment. Radiation resistance matters because energetic particles in space can disrupt electronic circuits, corrupt stored information, and degrade sensitive communications components. Space-hardened electronics are designed to reduce these risks and preserve equipment reliability during missions.

Another element of the project is an application programming interface (API) intended to enable precise pointing between payloads. Accurate pointing matters for directional satellite communications because antennas must stay properly aligned to establish and sustain reliable connections, especially when spacecraft move relative to one another. The planned interface could coordinate communications equipment and spacecraft pointing systems, although BAE Systems has not provided details on the underlying antenna technology or demonstrated pointing accuracy.

The emphasis on ultra-compact terminal dimensions also carries operational significance. Small satellites face strict limitations on available mass, physical space, electrical power, and thermal management. Smaller communications equipment can simplify integration and potentially preserve spacecraft resources for sensors, processors, or other mission equipment. BAE Systems has not released terminal dimensions, weight, power consumption, or other specifications that would allow the scale of these potential advantages to be assessed.

The development comes as military satellite communications face increasing threats from electronic warfare and counterspace activities. Interference directed at receivers or communications pathways can disrupt satellite radio links, potentially degrading the timely transmission of military information. Such disruptions could affect operations that depend on space-based connectivity, including intelligence sharing, remote command and control, and communications with deployed forces.

Resilient satellite communications are especially important for the U.S. military because space systems support operations across the land, air, maritime, cyber, and space domains. Space-based networks help distribute information between geographically separated forces and command authorities, reducing dependence on communications infrastructure located within a particular operational theater. Improving these networks' ability to withstand interference could therefore strengthen the continuity of military operations during a conflict involving sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities.

The U.S. Space Force's interest in a space-based data layer also reflects the broader military requirement to move information reliably between increasingly distributed space assets. As satellite architectures expand across different orbits, communications equipment must support information exchange without introducing unnecessary delays or creating additional vulnerable connections. Compact, adaptable radio-frequency terminals could help meet this requirement by providing additional options for secure connectivity between spaceborne systems.

However, resistance to jamming does not necessarily mean that a communications system is immune to electronic attack. Actual survivability depends on several technical factors, including antenna characteristics, signal processing, available transmission power, interference levels, and the tactics employed by an adversary. The effectiveness of the proposed BAE Systems terminals will therefore depend on testing and demonstration results that have not yet been publicly released.

The announcement did not disclose the contract's financial value, the number of terminals expected under the demonstration effort, or a delivery schedule. It also did not identify a specific satellite constellation that will receive the equipment. The award remains a design and demonstration activity rather than confirmation that the government has manufactured, qualified, or deployed operational terminals.

From an industrial perspective, adapting an established family of space-hardened software-defined radios may reduce some development risks compared with designing an entirely new communications system. Nevertheless, integrating the radios into compact terminals that meet the U.S. Space Force's security, pointing, environmental, and communications requirements will still require technical validation. No follow-on production contract has been announced.

The program's operational importance extends beyond improving a single satellite communications component. Future military operations will increasingly depend on exchanging information between spacecraft operating at different altitudes and performing different missions. A resilient communications architecture could help preserve access to critical data even when portions of the electromagnetic environment are contested.

For the United States, the development represents another effort to reduce vulnerabilities in the space infrastructure underpinning modern military operations. If the proposed terminals deliver reliable communications under the required environmental and interference conditions, they could give the U.S. Space Force another option for building more survivable, adaptable satellite networks. However, their eventual military value will depend on demonstrated performance, integration into operational spacecraft, and subsequent procurement decisions.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.