BAE Systems will develop and demonstrate compact radio-frequency (RF) terminals for a U.S. Space Force initiative aimed at improving communications across space-based networks. The work will support a space-based data layer designed to move information between military assets operating in orbit.
The Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded the contract as the military pursues resilient communications capabilities for increasingly demanding space operations. BAE Systems plans to adapt its existing space-qualified software-defined radio technology for the project.
The terminals must operate across multiple orbital environments, from low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). Their compact design could also help accommodate communications hardware on spacecraft with limited room for additional equipment.
Compact radios for military networks
Software-defined radios use programmable processing to handle radio communications, offering flexibility beyond traditional fixed-function hardware. BAE Systems plans to draw on its established radio technology to develop terminals that maintain reliable links under challenging conditions.
Military spacecraft can encounter deliberate jamming and electromagnetic interference that disrupt communications. Space radiation also threatens electronic components, making radiation tolerance essential for long-duration missions. The new terminals must withstand these conditions while meeting military security requirements.
BAE Systems will also conduct space-characterization testing to assess the hardware’s suitability for orbital operations. Its engineers will work with government partners to demonstrate the technology and prepare it for deployment.
An application programming interface (API) will help coordinate precise pointing between payloads. That capability will support alignment between communications systems as spacecraft establish links with other network elements.
Radiation hardening remains critical
BAE Systems brings an extensive portfolio of radiation-hardened electronics to the program. Its existing space hardware includes processors, memory components, programmable logic devices, and communications subsystems built for demanding orbital conditions.
The company’s RAD750 single-board computer has powered more than 100 satellites, according to BAE Systems. The processor also supports navigation payloads aboard GPS III satellites. Its flight heritage illustrates the importance of dependable computing hardware in missions where repairs are difficult or impossible.
BAE Systems also offers the RAD5545 SpaceVPX multi-core single-board computer. The system consolidates processing capabilities that previously required several cards, helping reduce a spacecraft’s electronics footprint. Its capabilities include onboard data processing and cybersecurity functions.
The company’s radiation-hardened components also include static random-access memory (SRAM), chalcogenide random-access memory (C-RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). These technologies support computing and data handling in space and missile defense systems.
Scaling production for future missions
Joe Dziezynski, BAE Systems’ Space Systems product line director, said the program draws on decades of experience developing hardware for demanding missions. He cited the company’s history, stretching from Apollo-era programs to modern deep-space and airborne systems.
Dziezynski also pointed to established manufacturing capacity as a way to accelerate deployment and expand production.
The Space Force program will require BAE Systems to demonstrate its proposed terminal technology before moving toward broader production. The company expects the system’s scalable design to address future Department of War requirements.
The effort reflects a practical engineering challenge for military space networks: delivering compact communications equipment that remains dependable despite interference, radiation, and the physical constraints of spacecraft. Successful demonstrations could help establish the terminals as another component of the Space Force’s evolving orbital communications infrastructure.