Boeing Co. announced June 25 it had received a contract from the U.S. Space Force for up to $2 billion, calling for the Arlington, Virginia-based aerospace manufacturer to deliver two narrowband communications satellites to improve military communications around the world. The program, according to a Boeing release, is called the Mobile User Objective System Service Life Extension, or MUOS SLE for short.

According to Boeing, the satellites used for the mission will use ultra-high-frequency (UHF) communications for maintaining connections through difficult terrain, severe weather and other obstacles. Boeing’s senior director of Space Communications Programs, Ryan Reid, noted the company’s experience in working with UHF systems and its use in Boeing’s 702MP spacecraft.

“This award reflects both our deep UHF heritage and the trust we’ve built supporting this critical national security mission,” Reid said. “When military users are operating in the most demanding conditions, this narrowband capability is their lifeline. By building on our active 702MP spacecraft production line, we bring immediate execution momentum, proven reliability, and schedule predictability to the U.S. Space Force.”

Introduced in 2009, Boeing’s medium-power, geostationary 702MP spacecraft are built in Boeing’s satellite test complex in El Segundo, California and are designed for 15 years of satellite service. Space Force said the pair of satellites called for in the contract are expected to launch in 2031 and 2032.

In a statement, Sam Graves, Boeing’s VP of Space Mission Systems, expressed gratitude for Space Force’s trust.

“For the people who depend on this connectivity, the need is clear: secure communication that works in demanding conditions,” Greaves said.