RTX BBN Technologies wins $11 million Space Force networking award
The Cambridge, Massachusetts, firm will build a Space Data Networking Experimentation prototype for the Air Force Research Laboratory, with work due by June 2028.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS — RTX BBN Technologies Inc.has won an $11 million Air Force contract modification for a space networking prototype, awarded July 7, 2026.
Here is the full announcement (see war.gov): “RTX BBN Technologies Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been awarded an $11 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00006) to a previously awarded contract (FA9453-25-C-X055) to exercise an option on a for a Space Data Networking Experimentation prototype. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $11.5 million. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by June 2028. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Space Force) funds in the amount of $1.2 million are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Warfare Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. (Awarded July 7, 2026)”
The modification exercises an option on the prototype effort and raises the total cumulative face value of the contract to $11.5 million. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds of $1.2 million are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Warfare Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity.
RTX BBN Technologies is an American research and development company founded in 1948 as Bolt, Beranek and Newman, and it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon in 2009 (see wikipedia.org). The firm gained a reputation as the “third university” in Cambridge alongside Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and it is known for DARPA-sponsored work spanning acoustics, computing, quantum information and synthetic biology (see wikipedia.org). In 2013 President Barack Obama awarded the firm the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (see wikipedia.org).
This contract represents the first award to RTX BBN Technologies Inc.in 2026, bringing the company’s total contract value for the year to $11 million. It is also the fifth Department of Defense contract awarded in Massachusetts during 2026. Because it is the first award to the company recorded in the database, it establishes the company’s initial benchmark within the Air Force portfolio.
The award ranks as both the largest and smallest Air Force contract recorded in 2026, at $11 million. This announcement was one of two Department of Defense contracts issued nationwide on July 7, 2026.
This contract represents the 1st contract awarded to RTX BBN Technologies Inc., in 2026, bringing the company’s total contract value for the year to $11,048,561. It is also the 5th Department of Defense contract awarded in Massachusetts during 2026. Because this is the first award to RTX BBN Technologies Inc. recorded in the database, it establishes the company’s initial benchmark within the Air Force portfolio. Specifically, it is both the largest and smallest Air Force contract awarded in 2026, at $11,048,561. Overall, this award was announced among 2 Department of Defense contracts issued nationwide on July 7, 2026.
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