SpaceX has been awarded a $2.29 billion contract by the US Space Force to develop a new communications network in low-Earth orbit, known as the Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone.

This network will utilize technology originally designed for SpaceX's Starlink global internet constellation and will use satellites called Starshield specifically for military applications. The aim is to create a resilient, high-speed mesh of interconnected satellites for worldwide tactical communications and broadband services.

Col. Ryan Frazier, acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive, highlighted that this network would leverage commercial innovation to act as a core layer in US military systems, ensuring continuous, global and secure connections between sensors and shooters.

This move comes after separate Pentagon initiatives for similar networks stalled, suggesting the shift towards more commercial solutions. The establishment of the Space Development Agency (SDA) in 2019 aimed at rapid procurement but faced challenges, leading to this new approach with SpaceX.