• The $30M award is the first under SDA’s Hybrid Acquisition for proliferated Low-earth Orbit (HALO) program. • The $30M award is the first under SDA’s Hybrid Acquisition for proliferated Low-earth Orbit (HALO) program.

Article Summaries:

  • The Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million contract to demonstrate the use of commercial low‑Earth‑orbit satellite links with U.S. military radios. This is the first award under SDA’s Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low‑Earth‑Orbit (HALO) program, which aims to integrate commercial satellite constellations into defense communications. The demonstration will test interoperability between AST SpaceMobile’s commercial network and military radio systems, potentially expanding the armed forces’ connectivity options. The award reflects SDA’s broader strategy to leverage commercial space assets for national‑security purposes.
  • The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million contract to demonstrate the use of commercial low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite links for military radio communications. This contract is the first under SDA’s Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low‑Earth‑Orbit (HALO) program, which seeks to integrate commercial satellite constellations into defense networks. The demonstration will test the feasibility of using AST SpaceMobile’s commercial LEO network to provide secure, high‑bandwidth links to U.S. military radios, potentially expanding operational connectivity and reducing reliance on traditional military satellite assets.

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