The US Air Force has awarded a $57m contract to Lockheed for the air force’s Milstar satellite communications system programme.

Under the contract for which $28m has already been obligated, Lockheed will provide non-personal services to support the operations and sustainment of Milstar and the Defense Satellite Communications System for the next eight months.

Milstar provides reliable, secure, jam-proof communications between fixed-site, mobile and portable terminals, for the use of the National Command Authorities, Department of Defense and operational forces.

Milstar uses signal processing algorithms on the satellites to help commanders from every service to establish customised networks within minutes.

The HQ MCSW/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity.