WASHINGTON — In a statement released Monday, February 23, 2026, the Space Development Agency (SDA) announced it has awarded a $30 million prototype agreement to AST SpaceMobile, Inc. for on-orbit tactical satellite communications (SATCOM) demonstrations.
The contract falls under the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (HALO) program, specifically the Europa Track 2 Commercial Solutions solicitation.
The agreement is designed to leverage AST SpaceMobile’s commercial satellite infrastructure to provide resilient, direct-to-device communications for the U.S. warfighter. This marks the first prime contract awarded to AST SpaceMobile USA, the company’s dedicated defense and government subsidiary.
Integration with the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture
The SDA is utilizing the HALO program to rapidly field and test commercial technologies that can bolster the Proflerated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Under the leadership of Acting Director Dr. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, who assumed the role following the departure of Derek Tournear in September 2025, the agency has prioritized “spiral development” to reduce risk for future operational tranches.
By integrating commercial “dual-use” platforms, the SDA aims to provide secondary, jam-resistant communication paths that complement its dedicated Transport and Tracking layers. The HALO pool, which initially selected 19 vendors in October 2024, serves as an incubator for these emerging tactical capabilities.
Technical Capabilities of the BlueBird Constellation
AST SpaceMobile will utilize its BlueBird satellite constellation to demonstrate high-bandwidth data transport directly to unmodified government end devices. Key technical features of the demonstration include:
- Software-Defined Architecture: Utilization of a “bent-pipe” structure that allows for rapid reconfiguration of signals to meet shifting tactical requirements.
- Tactical Radio Integration: Validation of seamless connectivity between LEO satellites and existing military-grade handheld radios.
- Low-Latency Performance: Leveraging LEO proximity to provide the responsive data speeds required for real-time mission updates.
Executive Perspective
“Selection for SDA’s Europa Track 2 program validates AST SpaceMobile’s ability to rapidly operationalize commercial space capabilities for national security,” said Chris Ivory, CEO of AST SpaceMobile USA. “By leveraging our existing low Earth orbit dual-use satellite technology, we support the Government’s defense efforts, delivering immediate connectivity with our BlueBird satellites and scaling quickly to advanced tactical use cases.“
Demonstration Timeline and Delivery
The firm-fixed-price Other Transaction (OT) agreement stipulates that on-orbit demonstrations must be completed by December 2027. During this period, the company will deliver data products “as-a-service” to the SDA, providing the agency with the metrics needed to determine the utility of space-based cellular broadband for broader military applications.
The success of these demonstrations will inform the requirements for future PWSA tranches, as the Department of War continues its shift toward hybrid architectures that blend sovereign and commercial assets for global mission persistence.
