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The Space Force’s September 30, 2026 contract action for L3Harris is valued at $461,908,308—about $461.9 million, or $462 million. It covers commercial satellite communications connectivity for designated executive airlift aircraft and authorized government personnel. The award record says $62,305,059 in fiscal year 2026 operations and maintenance funds was obligated at award; that is only the amount obligated then, not the full contract value.
What the $462 million contract covers
The contract is for commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) connectivity on designated executive airlift aircraft. The description says the service supports authorized government personnel. It does not identify a satellite operator, onboard terminal, aircraft models, subcontractors, or technical architecture. Inside Defense reported the Pentagon notice; the award record gives the procurement details.
How much was obligated at award?
The award record lists $62,305,059 in FY2026 operations and maintenance funds obligated at award. The $461,908,308 figure is the reported value of the contracting action; it should not be read as money all paid or obligated immediately. The record identifies the action as firm-fixed-price and definitized, and labels the acquisition sole-source. It does not state why that acquisition approach was used.
Which aircraft are covered?
The aircraft have not been identified in the available reporting. Inside Defense said the Air Force did not specify which aircraft were involved when asked. The contract description alone does not establish that the work is for Air Force One or any other named aircraft, so assigning it to a particular plane would be speculation.
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Who awarded the contract, and when is it expected to end?
The award record names the Space Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as the contracting activity. It lists contract identifier FA254126CB014PZ004, dates the record September 30, 2026, and gives an expected completion date of October 31, 2028. Inside Defense published its report on October 1, 2026.
Is this the same as the earlier L3Harris award?
No. GovTribe lists a separate April 1, 2026 award to L3Harris valued at $77.09 million. That record describes combined Operational Support Airlift and Executive Airlift commercial SATCOM services, with a potential completion date of October 31, 2026.
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The April record is a distinct earlier award, not an amount to add to the September action. The available records do not establish that it was a modification of the later contract.
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