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Largo Today
By the People, for the People
Air Force Awards $2 Billion Contract to RTX Raytheon for Nuclear Command and Control Satellite Terminals
The deal will provide survivable, global, protected satellite communications for strategic and tactical operations.
Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:38am
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The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $2 billion contract to RTX Corp. to provide Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) terminals that enable personnel on the ground and aboard military ships to access secure, jam-resistant, global communications for nuclear command and control. The AEHF terminals are compatible with legacy MILSTAR communications satellites and can operate in forward-deployed environments.
Why it matters
This contract highlights the Air Force's ongoing efforts to modernize its nuclear command and control capabilities with advanced satellite communications technology. The AEHF terminals provide encrypted, survivable communications to help enable nuclear operations and strategic decision-making.
The details
Under the $2 billion order, RTX Raytheon will provide the AEHF terminals, which operate at extremely high frequencies from 30 to 300 GHz. The terminals are compatible with legacy MILSTAR satellites and can be used in forward-deployed settings to support nuclear command and control communications from the air. The work will be performed in Marlboro, Massachusetts, and Largo, Florida, with an expected completion date of August 2031.
- The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, awarded the $2 billion contract on March 17, 2026.
- The work is expected to be completed by August 2031.
The players
RTX Corp.
An American aerospace and defense conglomerate that was formed in 2020 through the merger of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses.
Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
The division of the U.S. Air Force responsible for managing the development, acquisition, and sustainment of nuclear weapons and related systems.
What’s next
The Air Force will continue to work with RTX Raytheon to ensure the successful development and deployment of the AEHF terminals to support nuclear command and control capabilities.
The takeaway
This contract demonstrates the Air Force's commitment to modernizing its nuclear communications infrastructure with advanced satellite technology that can provide secure, survivable, and global connectivity for strategic and tactical operations.
