In a strategic advancement for U.S. military communications, SES Space & Defense, the dedicated U.S. subsidiary of satellite communications leader SES, has announced its participation in the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Hybrid Space Architecture Network initiative. As part of this program, SES will deliver its next-generation Secure Integrated Multi-Orbit Network (SIMON™) under the Hybrid Space Architecture II project.
The initiative reflects a broader move by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to modernize and diversify its satellite communications (SATCOM) infrastructure by integrating commercial innovations with traditional defense systems. At its core, SES’s SIMON™ solution will provide automatically orchestrated, resilient, and secure connectivity across multiple orbital layers—namely Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
This dynamic, multi-path architecture is designed to deliver uninterrupted, low-latency communications across commercial and government networks. Unlike traditional systems that rely on a rigid Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) structure, SIMON™ introduces auto-PACE capabilities—intelligent, adaptive routing that adjusts in real-time based on mission demands and network conditions.
“With SIMON™, warfighters will have the ability to ‘set and forget’ their user terminals and affordably realize assured connectivity across multiple orbits,” said David Fields, President and CEO of SES Space & Defense. “This transformational approach solves a decades-long dichotomy of affordability versus resilience, providing SATCOM agility, flexibility, and reliability for the forward deployed personnel.”
Why This Matters
The DoD’s growing reliance on hybrid space architecture—a blend of commercial and government-owned assets—signals a paradigm shift in how military communications are delivered. Rather than depending solely on expensive, dedicated infrastructure, warfighters can now leverage commercial space capabilities for real-time operational advantage, particularly in contested or austere environments.
SIMON™ stands as a prime example of how commercial space actors are reshaping the defense connectivity landscape. By integrating multiple orbits and enabling automated switching between communication paths, it reduces the likelihood of disruption, whether due to natural causes or adversarial actions.
As threats in the space domain continue to evolve, solutions like SIMON™ demonstrate how innovation at the commercial level is directly enhancing national security, especially in support of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and other U.S. military modernization efforts.
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