Japan Defense Satcom—Lockheed Anti-Jam Payload
Japan is striving to enhance military satellite communications in a spectrum that is currently available for acquisition. Lockheed Martin will provide a strong anti-jamming payload for Japan’s Next-Generation Defense Satellite Communication System. Mitsubishi Electric will be the main contractor for Japan’s Ministry of Defense.
Japan contract: key dates
The Kirameki-2 X-band spacecraft will be replaced by Japan’s next-generation defense communications satellite, which will be in geostationary orbit (GEO). Mitsubishi Electric asserts that the contract encompasses the necessary ground system for the satellite’s safe and reliable operation.
Mitsubishi Electric says the Ministry of Defense gave them the contract on February 6, 2026. The overview that was published says that the contract is worth ¥123.5 billion and will be delivered on March 29, 2030. These numbers are important because they show that long-term capacity planning is going on, not just a short-term fix.
Why the anti-jam payload matters
Lockheed Martin says that its payload will cut down on interference and help allies work together. So, Japan can connect protected satcom (satellite communications) to coalition networks without having to build new ones every time. Lockheed also calls it a “common payload” option for other GEO (geostationary orbit) users.
But operators don’t often see anti-jam as a single “magic bullet.” Instead, programs mix beam control, signal processing, and close terminal integration. Because of this, the link stays usable even when there is a lot of jamming and traffic. So, payload choices affect terminals, gateways, and operating concepts just as much as bandwidth does.
Colorado payload, Japan AI&T
Lockheed Martin will build the payload in Colorado. Mitsubishi Electric, on the other hand, will finish the final assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T) in Japan. This structure keeps Japan’s satellites made in Japan at the system level while bringing in a reliable supplier of protected payloads for the most difficult part of the mission.
Beyond X-band: more bands
Japan’s next-generation defense communications satellite will add more frequency bands to the current operational X-band system to meet rising demand. Mitsubishi Electric also says that the satellite will have a digital communications payload that can change the areas it covers and the amount of communications it can handle while it is in use.
That gives planners more choices when units surge, task groups move around, or priorities change quickly. Mitsubishi also connects “secure, stable” communications to the ground system design, which makes a key point stronger: resilience depends on gateways, crypto/key management, and terminal compatibility, not just the spacecraft.
Next steps in Asia-Pacific
Lockheed Martin and Mitsubishi Electric signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on defense communications satellites that stay in one place. Next, they want to look for more opportunities in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region while also looking at different ways to work together. If the model works, Japan’s next-generation defense communications satellite could become a model for safe, interoperable satcom in the region.
References
- https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2026-03-03-Lockheed-Martin-to-Support-Japans-Next-Generation-Defense-Communications-Satellite-with-Anti-Jamming-Capability
- https://us.mitsubishielectric.com/en/pr/global/2026/0206-b/
- https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/en/pr/2026/pdf/0206-b.pdf
- https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/melco-to-develop-defence-communications-satellite-for-japan
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