TLDR
- Viasat stock gains as Rocket Lab joins its major Space Force satellite project.
- Rocket Lab will build the satellite bus for Viasat’s protected PTS-G mission.
- The project targets secure, anti-jam communications for U.S. and allied forces.
- Viasat’s award includes five years of satellite operations and mission support.
- The deal advances a smaller, resilient GEO communications system for defense.
Viasat (VSAT) shares rose 0.51% to $83.30 as the company advanced a major U.S. Space Force satellite communications project. The company selected Rocket Lab to build a satellite bus for the Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global program. The agreement strengthens Viasat’s role in developing secure communications systems for U.S. and allied military operations.
Viasat, Inc., VSAT
Viasat Advances Space Force Satellite Program
Viasat selected Rocket Lab to support its work under the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global program. Rocket Lab will provide a satellite bus based on its Lightning spacecraft platform for the planned mission. Viasat will integrate its communications payload with the spacecraft before launch and operational deployment.
The Space Force awarded Viasat a prime contract for the program on May 22, 2026. The initial Swarm 1 production order covers manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, and orbital checkout activities. Viasat will deliver one of the first small and maneuverable satellites planned for geosynchronous Earth orbit.
The PTS-G program supports the military’s shift toward smaller and faster satellite systems with stronger protection against interference. Furthermore, the Space Force wants commercial technologies to increase system resilience and expand global communications coverage. Viasat’s government space team will lead the work through its Defense and Advanced Technologies segment.
Rocket Lab Supplies Lightning-GEO Spacecraft Platform
Rocket Lab will deliver a geosynchronous version of its Lightning spacecraft platform for the Viasat satellite. The spacecraft will carry Viasat’s dual-band X-band and Ka-band communications payload for protected military communications. Rocket Lab will also supply several systems through its vertically integrated spacecraft manufacturing operations.
Those systems include command radios, solar power equipment, star trackers, reaction wheels, and supporting flight software. Rocket Lab will also provide ground software needed to manage the spacecraft during operations. Consequently, Viasat can combine its communications technology with an established satellite platform designed for demanding missions.
The combined spacecraft will provide protected connectivity in environments where communications networks face electronic interference or disruption. Viasat designed its mini-GEO architecture to support secure links across several tactical communication requirements. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab’s commercial spacecraft technology supports the Space Force’s plan for a more distributed satellite network.
Viasat Expands Role in Protected Military Communications
Viasat will use its satellite engineering experience to deliver communications technology suited for U.S. military requirements. The company has developed satellite systems serving both government and commercial communications markets worldwide. Its latest contract expands that experience into smaller geosynchronous spacecraft designed for protected tactical communications.
The Space Force issued Viasat’s award through a competitive acquisition involving two separate delivery orders. That structure supports a diversified PTS-G architecture instead of relying on a single satellite supplier. Therefore, the military can expand capacity while reducing dependence on larger and slower satellite development programs.
Viasat’s contract also includes five years of operations and sustainment services after the satellite enters service. Those responsibilities cover spacecraft control, network operations, telemetry, tracking, command functions, and cybersecurity requirements. The Rocket Lab partnership now moves the project further toward production and eventual deployment for protected global communications.
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