# Satcom MUOS — Program Element 1203109SF

**Program element:** 1203109SF  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203109SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force funding ramps 106% to a $855.9M request in FY2027 — the program's peak, before stepping down 76% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators cut 40% (to $515.9M). General Dynamics leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 194.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 415.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 855.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 683.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 555.5 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 321.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 203.2 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 855.9 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 855.9 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 855.9 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 515.9 | −340.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 673109 | SATCOM MUOS | 194.8 | 415.4 | 855.9 | +106% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 673109 — SATCOM MUOS

The Narrowband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Program office is developing Narrowband Satellite Communications (Project 1203109SF) for Guardians across the SATCOM mission area. As a result, the Service will improve readiness and operational reach of existing force structure, and deliver resilient Infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. Narrowband Satellite Communications provides a worldwide, multi-service population of mobile and fixed-site terminal users with Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Narrowband, beyond line of sight satellite communications (SATCOM). Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) significantly increases performance and capacity in support of critical Combatant Command SATCOM priorities. MUOS is the replacement system for the UHF Follow-on (UFO) system, which is currently beyond its design life. MUOS is comprised of Space, Ground, and User Entry Segments. The Space Segment consists of five geosynchronous satellites to support a four satellite constellation over the intended service life. Each satellite provides a legacy UHF payload that is backward compatible with UFO, and a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) payload that provides cellular-like capability. MUOS reached full operational capability in October 2019. The Ground Segment consists of four world-wide Radio Access Facilities (RAFs) and two satellite control facilities. Each RAF includes three 60 ft. antennas and numerous equipment racks. The RAFs in Hawaii and Virginia each include a Switching Facility (SF), and the RAF in Hawaii includes a Network Management Facility (NMF). The User Entry Segment consists of the MUOS waveform that is ultimately integrated into MUOS-capable terminals which are fielded by the services. In addition to providing UHF SATCOM for the Department of War (DoW), the USSF has the overall responsibility to deliver the End-to-End (E2E) MUOS capability to the warfighter. This responsibility involves systems engineering, integration, network management, and test management of all MUOS system-of-system components. A Department of War Chief Information Officer assessment of anticipated narrowband satellite communication availability led to the Office of Under Secretary of War (OUSW) Acquisitions & Sustainment recommendation to initiate MUOS Service Life Extension (SLE) to acquire and launch two additional MUOS satellites (without legacy payloads).

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** General Dynamics (144.3, 17%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Baseline Upgrade | 21.7 | 26.7 | 20.6 |
| Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Service Life Extension (SLE) | 173.1 | 388.7 | 835.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 17% | 144.3 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 1.3% | 10.9 |
| Other / unspecified | 82% | 700.7 |

**Top named industry performers:** General Dynamics ($144.3M, 17%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Narrowband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Program office is developing Narrowband Satellite Communications (Project 1203109SF) for Guardians across the SATCOM mission area. As a result, the Service will improve readiness and operational reach of existing force structure, and deliver resilient Infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. Narrowband Satellite Communications provides a worldwide, multi-service population of mobile and fixed-site terminal users with Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Narrowband, beyond line of sight satellite communications (SATCOM).

Space Force will use existing MUOS Capability Production Document (CPD) requirements when developing two operationally similar SLE satellites. On 14 Apr 2022 the program competitively awarded technical and trade studies contracts to three vendors to inform program plans and understanding of required engineering design changes and potential trades. The Service Acquisition Executive approved the program's acquisition strategy on 14 Sep 2022 as a Major Capability Acquisition pathway, post-Milestone C program, and the program is executing to plan. On 2 Feb 2024, the program competitively awarded contracts to two vendors for early design and risk reduction for MUOS SVs 6 and 7.

## Related program elements

- [0603920A — Humanitarian Demining](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603920A) (Army)
- [1206445SF — Commercial SATCOM (COMSATCOM) Integration](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206445SF) (Space Force)
- [1206761SF — Protected Tactical Service (PTS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206761SF) (Space Force)
- [0604011K — Next Generation Information Communications Technology (5G)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604011K) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1203109SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1203109SF")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*