The two satellites, developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, Viasat, and Norwegian company IDEAS, bring advanced X-band and Ka-band connectivity to the Arctic. The mission also incorporates the Norwegian Radiation Monitor, which supports the European Commission by providing critical data from the satellites’ triple-apogee Highly Elliptical Orbits.
The EPS-R payloads deliver secure and reliable military satellite communications for U.S. and allied forces in the Northern Polar region. These payloads significantly enhance the capacity of the current Enhanced Polar System, extending its operational lifespan until next-generation protected MILSATCOM systems are launched in the mid-2030s.
Blake Bullock, Vice President of Military Space Systems at Northrop Grumman, commented: “Thanks to a bold vision from our customers — and enabled by Northrop Grumman’s end-to-end capabilities, deep mission understanding and unmatched MILSATCOM legacy — our service members and allies can now count on reliable, secure communications in this strategically important region while next-generation systems are developed.”
The ASBM mission is a historic collaboration between Space Norway and the U.S. Space Force, representing the first operational U.S. military payload hosted on an international commercial satellite. This innovative partnership showcases Northrop Grumman’s leadership in protected MILSATCOM missions, a legacy that dates back to the Milstar program of the 1990s.
Northrop Grumman’s role extended beyond payload development to include satellite integration, testing, launch support, and early mission operations. The company also provided two GEOStar-3 satellites and established Satellite Control Ground Systems in Tromsø and Bardufoss, Norway. The mission’s operational control is supported by a unified software system, streamlining the management of both EPS and EPS-R payloads.
