Iridium Communications Partners with U.S. Space Force for Enhanced Connectivity

Iridium Communications inc. has secured a five-year base Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with an additional five-year option, from the U.S. Space Force for its Iridium Certus® services.

Contract Overview and Strategic Importance

This contract is part of a broader initiative known as the U.S. Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite-Based services program and involves several partners associated with Iridium.

Unmatched Global Connectivity

As a premier provider of global voice and data satellite communications, Iridium Certus stands out as the sole broadband service that guarantees highly dependable, truly global connectivity that is resilient to weather disruptions. This capability is essential for the Joint All Domain Command and Control’s (JADC2) Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) communications framework.

Advanced Terminal Capabilities

The contract encompasses Iridium Certus™ terminals and services, which deliver crucial broadband and midband functionalities to modern military personnel. These terminals are designed to be low-profile and maintain robust broadband connectivity in dynamic and unpredictable environments, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, without the need for landing communications in non-U.S. territories.

Resilient Satellite Network

Leveraging its unique satellite network in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Iridium provides weather-resilient L-band connectivity and unmatched global coverage. this system circumvents the permanent line-of-sight obstructions that geostationary (GEO) systems often face, ensuring that mission-critical communications are reliably delivered to the Department of Defense and other federal entities.

Commitment to Mission-critical Connectivity

The Iridium® network is designed to maintain satellite communications, ensuring users remain connected even in high-risk combat zones or adverse weather conditions.

Expert Insights

“With over 25 years of experience in LEO operations and collaboration with the Department of defense,Iridium is excited to deepen our partnership with the U.S. Space Force to support the warfighter’s mission,” stated Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president of government programs at Iridium. “We take pride in the enhanced collaboration between the U.S. government and our network of partners, who contribute their expertise to strengthen the capabilities of the dod’s SATCOM portfolio. iridium and our partners are dedicated to providing essential connectivity and are eager to support the DoD’s vision for a unified SATCOM enterprise.”