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SpaceX Wins $57M Contract for Satellite Crosslink Demo

April 22, 2026

1 min read

Key Takeaways

SpaceX wins $57 million U.S. military contract.
Contract is for satellite crosslink demo using Link-182 standard.
Demo to support Golden Dome and MILNET data relay network.
Completion expected by April 2027.

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Strategic Implications

This award may signal the U.S. Space Force's growing interest in space-based data links, which could enhance the military's warfighting capability. The adoption of the Link-182 standard suggests a focus on interoperability and scalability, which may benefit multiple contractors and support a future operational network.

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What Happened

Space Force Awards Deal for Space-Based Data Links

The U.S. Space Force’s acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, has awarded SpaceX a $57 million contract to demonstrate satellite-to-satellite communications using the Link-182 standard. The demo will support the Golden Dome program and the MILNET data relay network, a planned constellation of Starshield communications satellites in low Earth orbit. The contract is expected to be completed by April 2027. This development was first reported by SpaceNews.

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