WASHINGTON — The U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Viasat a $325 million contract to provide communications equipment and networking services over the next five years, the Pentagon announced Nov. 22. 

Viasat, a satellite operator and global communications services provider based in Carlsbad, California, will support USSOCOM’s program executive office for tactical communications systems,

USSOCOM, based in Tampa, Florida, is a unified military command with components from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. 

Under the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) agreement, Viasat will provide communications hardware, technical support and network integration services. 

The sole-source contract extends the deal Viasat won in 2017 when USSOCOM awarded the company a $350 million five-year IDIQ contract for critical mission networking and communications equipment, sustainment and support services.

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...