- The United States Air Force awarded Raytheon a contract modification worth up to $2.01 billion to continue work on Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite communications terminals.
- The modification increases the total value of the AEHF terminal contract to about $2.97 billion with work expected to continue through 2031.
The United States Air Force has awarded Raytheon a contract modification worth up to $2.01 billion to continue work on the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) terminal, a key communications system used to support secure military satellite networks, according to a contract announcement released March 13.
The modification increases the total value of the existing contract from $960 million to about $2.97 billion and supports continued development and production of AEHF terminal capabilities used by the United States military for protected satellite communications.
The contract was issued by the United States Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Strategic Communications Division in Bedford, Massachusetts. Officials said work will take place primarily in Marlboro, Massachusetts, and Largo, Florida, with completion expected by Aug. 9, 2031.
The AEHF terminal program forms part of the U.S. military’s hardened satellite communications architecture designed to ensure secure communications for strategic forces and senior military leadership during crises or conflict.
These terminals connect ground stations, command centers, and mobile units to the AEHF satellite constellation, which provides protected communications designed to resist electronic interference, cyber threats, and nuclear effects.
Such systems are central to the command-and-control infrastructure used by the United States military for sensitive operations and strategic communications.
The contract modification allows Raytheon to continue work on the advanced terminals that interface with the AEHF satellite network. These terminals enable encrypted voice, data, and command traffic to move through secure military satellite channels.
AEHF communications allow commanders to maintain reliable communications even in highly contested environments where adversaries attempt to disrupt or intercept transmissions.
Because the satellites and associated terminals are hardened against electronic attack and designed to function during extreme conditions, the system forms a critical part of the United States military’s survivable communications infrastructure.
Raytheon, which operates as part of RTX, has long been involved in producing ground systems and terminals used for protected satellite communications.
The company manufactures hardware and software that allow military units to access the AEHF satellite network from a variety of operational environments, including command centers, mobile command posts, and strategic platforms.
These terminals enable users to connect to the satellite network and exchange data through highly secure channels designed to protect sensitive communications.