SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

The LI 2912B56000 - SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS program is a consolidated Army procurement line supporting the modernization of satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities under the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative. This line item integrates four previously separate portfolios: Transportable Tactical Command Comms (T2C2), Super High Frequency (SHF) Terminal, Protected Anti-Jam Tactical SATCOM, and Combat Service Support (CSS) Satellite Communications. The consolidation, approved for FY 2025 and implemented in FY 2026, aims to streamline funding, improve acquisition efficiency, and enhance the Army's tactical and sustainment communications infrastructure to meet evolving operational demands.

B56111 - Transportable Tactical Command Comms (T2C2) focuses on providing lightweight, rapidly deployable SATCOM terminals for small tactical teams operating at the edge of the battlefield. The FY 2026 objective includes procurement of Ultra Lite terminals, which offer all-weather, early-entry communications with minimal setup time and support for secure classified and coalition network access. Funding also covers recurring engineering for hardware and software updates, logistics and cyber support, and SATCOM Support Center (SSC) services for 24/7 helpdesk and network connectivity. Additional objectives include fielding, training, maintenance, initial spares, and addressing obsolescence in previously fielded systems such as ISA Lite, SCOUT, and DKET terminals.

B56222 - Super High Frequency (SHF) Terminal supports the acquisition and fielding of the AN/TSC-156E Phoenix E-Model, the Army's only quad-band, multi-carrier, high-capacity SATCOM terminal. The program's goals are to expand network capacity at priority nodes, bridge network gaps, and enable seamless integration with strategic networks through Regional Hub Nodes and Standardized Tactical Entry Points. Funding is allocated for procurement of Phoenix-E terminals, government furnished equipment, technical manuals, software configuration management, fielding and training personnel, spares, logistics services, and systems engineering. The contracting approach leverages a Family of Terminals strategy to incorporate emerging technologies and ensure network resiliency and high-throughput broadband services.

B56333 - Protected Anti-Jam Tactical SATCOM is designed to ensure resilient communications in contested environments, protecting Army tactical terminals from jamming and interference. Key objectives include procurement and integration of Resilient Anti-Jam Modems (RAM) and Air Force/Army Anti-Jam Modems (A3M), development and certification of Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) modems, and acquisition of waveform licenses. The program is a joint effort with the US Space Force for A3M, while RAM is an Army-specific requirement. Funding supports recurring engineering, compliance with NSA security requirements, fielding and training, engineering services, and program management to address emerging threats and maintain secure communications during critical operations.

B56444 - CSS Satellite Communications underpins the Army's Sustainment Transport System (STS), providing unclassified SATCOM connectivity for logistics, financial management, personnel, and health service support across all echelons. The program's objectives are to replace legacy CSS VSAT and CAISI systems with modernized SATCOM, Wi-Fi, and Line-of-Sight (LOS) systems, enabling Beyond Line-of-Sight communications and enterprise access to the DoD Information Network-Army (DODIN-A). Funding is directed toward procurement of network infrastructure, initial spares, software maintenance and cybersecurity, logistics documentation, fielding, training, and system engineering. The acquisition strategy emphasizes Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) systems to accelerate deployment and enhance flexibility.

Across all portfolios, the consolidated SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS line item supports the Army's broader goal of unified network modernization, ensuring secure, resilient, and interoperable communications for both tactical and sustainment operations. The program justifies its investments by addressing critical needs for rapid deployment, network diversity, anti-jam protection, and enterprise-level logistics connectivity. The FY 2026 budget reflects a balanced approach to procurement, sustainment, and integration of advanced SATCOM technologies, with specific quantities and funding allocations tailored to each portfolio's operational requirements and modernization objectives.