(WASHINGTON, DC) – Funding from the United States Space Force is furthering the role Grand Forks will play in supporting global military operations.
The U.S. Space Force awarded a nearly $10 million contract modification to General Dynamics, Senator John Hoeven announced Saturday morning. The funding will help General Dynamics’ efforts to advance the Space Networking Center and satellite mission at the Grand Forks Air Force Base by funding the testing and development of a data traffic network serving the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite mission. The project’s goal is to enable interoperability between the new space-based communications system and existing ground-based systems and ensure efficient data traffic as more missions are tied into the network, while keeping the mission information secure.
“Under this award, General Dynamics will test and develop systems that can integrate the first tranche of LEO satellites into the DoD’s communications network. Doing so will lay the groundwork for missions to begin utilizing the satellite communications network and cementing Grand Forks’ central role in supporting military operations around the globe,” Hoeven said.
