Hughes Network Systems, a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, has announced its selection for a significant five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Space Force.
This contract, valued at up to $900 million, will enable the provision of advanced Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-based services to the U.S. Department of Defense, federal agencies, and international coalition partners.
The contract empowers government entities to access fully managed, low-latency LEO services through Hughes’ innovative solutions, taking advantage of capacity from two distinct satellite constellations: OneWeb and EchoStar Lyra.
Leslie Blaker-Glass, Vice President of Hughes, remarked, “As government and defense agencies explore the power and potential of LEO services in delivering capabilities to the warfighter faster and at lower cost, we’re proud to offer not one, but two compelling solutions. Our OneWeb offering – with our low-power, light-weight, flat panel antenna – and our next-generation EchoStar Lyra S-band IoT system position us to deliver customers in the DoD and federal government robust and resilient low-latency connectivity at a competitive price.”
Hughes has already solidified its commitment to providing cutting-edge LEO services by establishing a distribution agreement with OneWeb Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of OneWeb, to provide managed, wideband LEO services to the Department of Defense. These services are now accessible through the IDIQ as well as the GSA Schedule. Additionally, EchoStar Lyra constellation’s narrowband services are included under the IDIQ, bolstering the development of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and contributing to ongoing 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN) efforts.
Rick Lober, Vice President and General Manager of the Defense and Government Systems Division at Hughes, highlighted the significance of these LEO capabilities, stating, “These important LEO capabilities will give the DoD cost-effective solutions and added reliability and resiliency in satellite communications across all domains, and we look forward to addressing upcoming requirements for procurement of these services.”
The contract with the U.S. Space Force marks a substantial milestone in Hughes’ ongoing commitment to delivering cutting-edge satellite services that enhance communication and connectivity for defense and government applications.