Bascom Hunter Wins SBIR Contract for SATCOM R&D
Bascom Hunter Technologies has been awarded a new SBIR contract from Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. The contract supports research and development for a transportable, non-geostationary satellite communications terminal, highlighting the SBIR program's continued role in funding advanced defense technology despite the lack of congressional reauthorization.
- The Satellite Terminal (transportable) Non-Geostationary (STtNG) system is a shipboard, carry-on terminal designed to operate with commercial and military satellites across multiple orbits, including LEO constellations like SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper, MEO systems, and GEO satellites. - This award builds on Bascom Hunter's previous work with Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), including a 2019 SBIR Phase III contract with a total value of $13.24M to develop interference mitigation technologies for Navy SATCOM terminals. - In November 2025, Bascom Hunter was awarded a $22.2 million sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement, manufacturing, and testing of STtNG systems, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2026. - The development of multi-orbit terminals like STtNG is a key part of the Department of Defense's broader strategy to build a more resilient satellite communications enterprise that can operate in contested environments by leveraging commercial technology. - The legislative authority for the SBIR/STTR programs expired on September 30, 2025, and as of early 2026, Congress has not passed a reauthorization, preventing federal agencies from issuing new Phase I or Phase II awards. - Follow-on Phase III contracts, however, are funded with non-SBIR government dollars and can proceed, allowing companies like Bascom Hunter to transition previously developed SBIR technology into production and procurement. - The DoD's pivot to a hybrid satellite architecture is driving significant investment, with the Space Force alone planning to award $905 million for a "Maneuverable GEO" program to build a commercial fleet of maneuverable communications satellites. - Founded in 2010 as a spin-out from Princeton University, Bascom Hunter has received over $103 million in total federal awards and has previously been recognized with a Tibbetts Award for its success in commercializing SBIR-funded technology.
