SDA Makes HALO Europa Award
Feb. 23, 2026
Initial HALO Europa Acquisition To Demonstrate Commercial TACSATCOM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced it has awarded a $30 million prototype agreement for the first commercial solutions program under the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit, or HALO, Europa Track 2 solicitation to AST SpaceMobile, Inc., Midland, Texas, for a demonstration using commercial platforms for tactical satellite communication (TACSATCOM) efforts.
The firm-fixed price, Other Transaction agreement (OTA), was awarded to leverage AST SpaceMobile’s expertise to demonstrate TACSATCOM efforts using the company’s commercial space vehicles with the demonstrations planned to be completed by December 2027.
“The acquisition flexibility afforded by the HALO Europa program leverages commercial investments and enables learning at speed,” said GP Sandhoo, acting director of SDA. “We are now using commercial solutions to quickly demonstrate mission utility, reduce risk for the operational layers of future tranches of the PWSA, and accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge capability to the warfighter.”
The HALO pool uses Other Transaction authority and is modeled after an indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracting approach, where each member receives an initial agreement valued at $20,000 to defray administrative and travel expenses and is then eligible to compete for future HALO demonstration prototype orders. AST SpaceMobile was among the original 19 HALO pool members.
Only vendors in the HALO pool will be able to bid against future specific demonstration prototype orders. HALO may also increase the pool of performers capable of bidding on future SDA programs, including participation in layers of future tranches.
HALO will provide opportunities for companies to gain valuable experience working with SDA on demonstration projects. SDA is the contracting activity in Washington, D.C. 20330. SDA expects to announce additional awards under HALO in the near future.
About the Space Development Agency. As part of the U.S. Space Force, SDA is recognized as a constructive disruptor for space acquisition. SDA will accelerate delivery of needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. For more information on SDA, contact USSF.SDA.Outreach@mail.mil or visit https://www.sda.mil.
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