Viasat Wins $450 Million Space Force Contract for Golden Dome Data Backbone

Viasat has won a U.S. Space Force contract worth up to $450 million to build the operational core of the Space Data Network Backbone, the data transport layer supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative and Joint Force operations worldwide.

The Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded the Carlsbad, California-based satellite communications company an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a $450 million ceiling. An initial task order worth $115 million will fund development and scaling of the program's mission operations center and its network operations capabilities.

The $450 million figure is a ceiling, not a guaranteed payment. Future revenue depends on additional task orders and government requirements as the program matures.

What will Viasat actually build?

The Space Data Network Backbone (SDN-B) is a multi-vendor architecture designed to move high-capacity, low-latency data across multiple satellite networks and orbital environments. Rather than depending on a single satellite operator, it integrates multiple providers and network elements into one managed system.

Viasat's scope covers the mission operations center, not the entire Golden Dome program. Under government direction, the center will give operators a coordinated view of every participating network element, including connectivity, performance and operational status.

The company's responsibilities include:

• Systems engineering and network integration
• Multi-orbit connectivity integration across satellites at different altitudes
• Enterprise network operations infrastructure
• Operational support and long-term sustainment
• Network management tools supporting a common operational picture

The center will also support government-directed prioritization of communications resources based on mission requirements.

Why multi-orbit integration matters

Satellites operating at different altitudes carry distinct trade-offs in coverage, latency and capacity. Integrating services across those orbits gives military communications planners greater flexibility and resilience than any single architecture can provide.

Viasat will support integration across space-to-ground communications interfaces, helping participating satellite systems operate within one coordinated network. Craig Miller, President of Viasat Government, framed the award around that track record: "This award leverages Viasat's deep experience operating complex, mission-critical networks. By bringing commercial scale and dual-use innovative technology to support Government capability delivery, we are committed to supporting the Space Force's effort to field secure, high-capacity data transport for current and future defense missions."

The contract also establishes a framework for future engineering, operational and sustainment work. Later task orders may address network availability, cybersecurity and resilience requirements as the architecture develops.

How does this fit Golden Dome?

Golden Dome for America is a homeland defense effort covering detection, tracking and interception of modern aerial and missile threats. Those missions depend on reliable data transport between sensors, command-and-control systems and other defense assets. SDN-B is designed to supply part of that transport architecture, and the program also supports Joint Force operations that link space-based assets with units across different environments.

Miller described the program's ambition in a statement: "The Space Data Network Backbone represents a critical leap forward toward a unified, highly resilient and interconnected military space architecture. We are proud to support SSC as the network and mission system integration partner for the MOC effort."

The commercial angle

The award reflects Space Systems Command's push to fold commercial networking technology into military infrastructure. The open-architecture approach lets defense organizations add new communications capabilities as requirements evolve, combining contributions from multiple providers under one integration layer.

For Viasat, the $115 million task order and $450 million ceiling mark a significant position in the military space communications market, applying decades of government and commercial satellite network operations to one of the Pentagon's highest-priority architecture programs.