CAPACITY ON A UHF-CAPABLE ON-ORBIT MEO SATELLITE

This Request for Information (RFI) is focused on obtaining access to bandwidth carried by a commercially owned, commercially operated UHF-capable on-orbit MEO satellite for use in a near-term experimental campaign to:

1. Characterize spectrum, waveform, and user equipment operation with a MEO UHF system
2. Demonstrate interoperability between a potential future MEO UHF system and the existing GEO constellation
3. Inform a time-sequenced pathway to augment or replace the GEO UHF system with a MEO capability

The offeror should consider technology solutions that prioritize existing space vehicle, payload and communications link capabilities to provide on-orbit service immediately or as soon as possible.  An Initial Launch Capability (ILC) by 2030 is potentially useful, but innovative approaches leading to earlier on-orbit capability are strongly desired.  The Government recognizes that this initial prototype may not be fully representative of a final, future architecture, but rather represents an initial step to explore providing UHF services from MEO.

AMENDMENT 1 (23 Jul 2026)

1. The following changes are hereby made to the above announcement:

   • Corrects the uplink and downlink frequency bands in Section 4.0.a.i

2. The attachment entitled "pMEO Demo Request for Information_FINAL 10 Jul 26" is removed in its entirety and replaced with "pMEO Demo Request for Information_AMEND1 23 Jul 26".

3. All other RFI content and due dates remain unchanged.

Refer to the attachment entitled "pMEO Demo Request for Information_AMEND1 23 Jul 26" for full details.

Department/Ind.Agency DEPT OF DEFENSE

Subtier DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE

Office

AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND