# Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) — Program Element 1206855SF

**Program element:** 1206855SF  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206855SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force requests $1.84B in FY2027 against nothing enacted in FY2026 — the program's peak, before stepping down 48% 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 9.8% (to $1.66B). Boeing leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 1,838.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 1,682.6 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 1,017.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 1,172.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 951.9 |

> 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 | 1,838.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 1,838.7 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 1,838.7 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 1,658.7 | −180.0 |

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

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650014 | Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Space | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1,266.9 | new start |
| 650015 | Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) GRIFFON & Crypto | 0.0 | 0.0 | 571.8 | new start |

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

### Project 650014 — Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Space

ESS is the backbone for Joint All Domain Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3). The system will replace Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM) services to provide global, integrated, survivable, resilient, and dynamic ground and satellite communications for assured strategic capabilities across the conflict continuum. The ESS program underwent a resiliency architecture shift to address emerging sophisticated threats and to ensure strategic SATCOM capabilities are available to the National Command Authority (NCA), Combatant Commanders, and joint warfighters in any potential future conflict. ESS will provide the only arctic DoW strategic communication capability across the joint enterprise, and will provide worldwide secure, jam-resistant communications for strategic ground, sea, and air assets. ESS will support existing strategic user terminals in all operational environments. ESS is acquired and developed in several parallel efforts to accelerate delivery of capability to warfighters by the strategic need date in FY 2032. The ESS System includes a Space Segment (ACAT-I), Ground, User, and Integration Segment (ACAT-I equiv), and a Crypto Segment (ACAT-III). The Space Segment is a Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) program in the Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase. The Ground Segment, also known as GRIFFON - Ground Resilient Integration & Framework for Operational NC3, is comprised of the Ground Integration and Framework (GIF), System of Systems Integration (SoSI), and Mission Software Applications. This enables a resilient and modular cybersecure architecture that bridges the gap between modern software practices and legacy user terminal capability. The GIF/SoSI and Mission Planning Software efforts are leveraging the Software Acquisition Pathway Other Transactional Authorities for rapid prototyping of ground software. The ESS Ground Framework creates cybersecure software development, integration, and operational environments utilizing agile Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and onboards hosted external mission applications and services. SoSI ensures all ESS segments that are acquired in parallel, in addition to external entities, work together to accomplish the mission.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Boeing (1,066.3, 84%), KBR (39.8, 3.1%), BAH (16.6, 1.3%), MIT/LL (9.3, 0.7%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Development and Production | — | 0.0 | 1,266.9 |

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

### Project 650015 — Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) GRIFFON & Crypto

ESS is the backbone for Joint All Domain Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3). The system will replace Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM) services to provide global, integrated, survivable, resilient, and dynamic ground and satellite communications for assured strategic capabilities across the conflict continuum. The ESS program underwent a resiliency architecture shift to address emerging sophisticated threats and to ensure strategic SATCOM capabilities are available to the National Command Authority (NCA), Combatant Commanders, and joint warfighters in any potential future conflict. ESS will provide the only arctic DoW strategic communication capability across the joint enterprise, and will provide worldwide secure, jam-resistant communications for strategic ground, sea, and air assets. ESS will support existing strategic user terminals in all operational environments. ESS is acquired and developed in several parallel efforts to accelerate delivery of capability to warfighters by the strategic need date in FY 2032. The ESS System includes a Space Segment (ACAT-I), Ground, User, and Integration Segment (ACAT-I equiv), and a Crypto Segment (ACAT-III). The Space Segment is a Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) program in the Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase. The Ground Segment, also known as GRIFFON - Ground Resilient Integration & Framework for Operational NC3, is comprised of the Ground Integration and Framework (GIF), System of Systems Integration (SoSI), and Mission Software Applications. This enables a resilient and modular cybersecure architecture that bridges the gap between modern software practices and legacy user terminal capability. The GIF/SoSI and Mission Planning Software efforts are leveraging the Software Acquisition Pathway Other Transactional Authorities for rapid prototyping of ground software. The ESS Ground Framework creates cybersecure software development, integration, and operational environments utilizing agile Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and onboards hosted external mission applications and services. SoSI ensures all ESS segments that are acquired in parallel, in addition to external entities, work together to accomplish the mission.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Lockheed Martin (201.0, 35%), RTX / Raytheon (79.7, 14%), General Dynamics (25.0, 4.4%), Boeing (22.5, 3.9%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Resilient Integration & Framework for Operational NC3 (GRIFFON) | — | 0.0 | 519.6 |
| End-Cryptographic Unit (ECU) | — | 0.0 | 52.2 |

> 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 | 81% | 1,498.3 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 0.8% | 14.3 |
| Other / unspecified | 18% | 326.1 |

**Top named industry performers:** Boeing ($1.09B, 59%), Lockheed Martin ($201.0M, 11%), RTX / Raytheon ($79.7M, 4.3%), KBR ($60.6M, 3.3%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This is not a new start. The Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Program office is developing the next-generation strategic SATCOM (Projects ESS000, 650014, 650015) for Guardians across the Satellite Communications Mission Area. As a result, the Service will improve readiness and operational reach of existing force structure, integrate Allies, partners, and commercial space to USSF units, and deliver resilient infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. ESS is the backbone for Joint All Domain Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3).

GRIFFON is the ground segment solution for ESS, and it includes ESS GIF, SoSI, and Software Application development efforts. The GIF will scope and provide advisory services on the ground system infrastructure to provide a software architecture and support the corresponding software factory. The GIF contractor will provide continual test and delivery services of the DevSecOps pipeline and software from different development and pre-production environments. It will also ensure NC3 compliance. The System Integrator will ensure all ESS segments operate cohesively to deliver interoperable capability.

## Related program elements

- [0203345F — Operations Security (OPSEC)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0203345F) (Air Force)
- [0304310F — Commercial Economic Analysis](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304310F) (Air Force)
- [0604002SF — SF Weather Services Research](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604002SF) (Space Force)
- [1206425SF — Space Situation Awareness Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206425SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206855SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206855SF")`.

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