Space: Advancing LEO SATCOM in Contested Environments

*AMENDMENT 001 - The document contains information related to the Challenge closing date. Please note that the ISC website will be available on February 17, 2026 at 10:30am EDT.* This Challenge Notice is issued under the Innovative Solutions Canada Program (ISC) Call for Proposals 004 (EN578-20ISC4). For general ISC information, Applicants/Offerors can visit the ISC website at: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/innovative-solutions-canada/en Please refer to the Solicitation Documents Innovative Solutions Canada Program Call for Proposals – 004 - Tender Notice | CanadaBuys https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities/tender-notice/cb-331-17030872 which contains the process for submitting a proposal. Steps to apply: Step 1: read this challenge Step 2: read the Call for Proposals : https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities/tender-notice/cb-331-17030872 Step 3: propose your solution here : https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/innovative-solutions-canada/en/space-advancing-low-earth-orbit-satellite-communication-contested-environments Challenge title: Space: Advancing LEO SATCOM in Contested Environments Challenge sponsor: Department of National Defence (DND) Funding Mechanism: Contract MAXIMUM CONTRACT VALUE: Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge. Direct to Phase 2: This challenge is only open to receive proposals for Phase 2 (Prototype development) of our Challenge Stream. Proposed solutions that fall within technology readiness level (TRL) 5 and 9 can be submitted to this challenge. • The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 contract resulting from this Challenge is : $2,000,000.00 CAD excluding applicable taxes, shipping, travel and living expenses, as required. • The maximum duration for any Phase 2 contract resulting from this Challenge is up to 12 months (excluding submission of the final report). • Estimated number of Phase 2 contracts: 2 This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to award any contract for the total approximate funding. Final decisions on the number of Phase 2 awards will be made by Canada on the basis of factors such as evaluation results, departmental priorities and availability of funds. Canada reserves the right to make partial awards and to negotiate project scope changes. Note: Selected companies are eligible to receive one contract per phase per challenge. Travel: No travel required. Kick-off Meeting: All communication will take place by telephone or videoconference. Progress Review Meeting(s): Any progress review meetings will be conducted by telephone or videoconference. Final Review Meeting: All communication will take place by telephone or videoconference. Problem statement: Challenge Statement Summary The challenge is to provide the Department of National Defence (DND) with innovative solutions for resilient Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communications that leverage adaptive beamforming to counter adversarial interference, and provide rigorous performance measurements from testbed experiments. Details: Essential Outcomes The proposed solution must: 1. Evaluate the LEO SATCOM orbit communications system under intentional, controlled and measured interference, (e.g., jamming or other interfering signal occupying the same bandwidth), and produce quantitative analysis of communication performance using metrics such as bit-error rate (BER), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), jammer-to-signal ratio (JSR), spectrum occupancy, data throughput degradation, recovery latency through various stages such as detection, adaptation, and recovery, using either high fidelity laboratory facilities (e.g., an anechoic chamber), or on orbit satellites for experiments to generate outcomes. 2. Evaluate scenarios that apply adaptive beamforming techniques, including the use of adaptive phased arrays and algorithms that dynamically control antenna elements to mitigate jamming interference, assessing performance using metrics such as detection reliability (probability of detection) and reaction latency, using either high fidelity laboratory facilities (e.g., an anechoic chamber), or on orbit satellites for experiments to generate outcomes. 3. Include at least Kurz-above (Ka) band for LEO SATCOM, using either high fidelity laboratory facilities (e.g., an anechoic chamber), or on orbit satellites for experiments to generate outcomes. 4. Evaluate scenarios involving multiple kinds of malicious signals, such as, but not limited to, single tone, multi-tone, swept jamming, follower jamming, pulsed/smart jamming, distributed/swarm jamming, using either high fidelity laboratory facilities (e.g., an anechoic chamber), or on orbit satellites for experiments to generate outcomes. 5. Provide comparative evaluations of jamming mitigation techniques based on the experimental data generated using either high fidelity laboratory facilities (e.g., an anechoic chamber), or on orbit satellites. Additional Outcomes The proposed solution should: 1. Compare all experimental results generated using high fidelity laboratory evaluation (such as an anechoic chamber) and on-orbit satellites. 2. Evaluate approaches, using at least simulations, which jointly apply adaptive beam forming techniques with one or multiple other techniques, e.g., network multipath routing, cognitive spectrum access, new resilient transceiver capabilities, for end-to-end LEO network communications to counter adversarial jamming. 3. Demonstrate experimentation with emerging and future technologies in resilient communications in contested hybrid satellite networks, including but not limited to: i) Direct-to-device user terminals; ii) Quantum SATCOM capabilities; *Testing in an anechoic chamber or using on-orbit satellites is not mandatory for the demonstration of these capabilities. 4. Provide comparisons of different approaches to mitigate jamming, including approaches that were not pursued experimentally in a laboratory anechoic chamber or on-orbit. 5. Include scenarios with multiple communication end users connected across the LEO network in operation theatre(s), and advanced mobile/on-the-move jamming source(s), where some earth based users are mobile/on-the-move; these scenarios may be developed through modelling and simulation and do not require anechoic chamber or on-orbit testing. 6. Include use-cases with terminals in the Arctic. 7. Demonstrate novel covert communication capabilities for achieving LPD/LPI – testing. (Testing in an anechoic chamber or using on-orbit satellites is not mandatory in this case.) 8. Deliver, commission and set up the experiment/testbed systems at a DND/DRDC designated facility with the required training and support. Background & Context 1. LEO SATCOM capabilities are typically developed and deployed for commercial services which do not involve adversarial RF interference like those employed in combat and national security operation theatres; 2. Resilience is currently achieved by redundant satellites providing access and alternative paths. This solution is effective as proven in the recent Ukraine war (URL: Satellite’s Pivotal Role in Connecting Ukraine - Telecom Review Europe), though it involves large number of satellites and their launch overhead; 3. Military operations apply Electronic Protection Measures (EPM) such as waveform design, frequency hopping (FH), and direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) to evade jammers. They require costly R&D, expensive radios and increase spectrum resources; 4. Adaptive beam steering and shaping technology is being employed in LEO commercial networks for spectrum efficiency and interference mitigation. ((1) Space-Time Beamforming for Satellite Communications | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore (3) Dynamic Interference Prediction and Receive Beamforming for Dense LEO Satellite Networks - 2025 - International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking - Wiley). While the technology is applicable against jamming, little has been reported. (1) Satellite Signal Jamming Reaches New Lows - IEEE Spectrum (2) unveiling_beamforming_strategies_of_starlink_leo_satellites.pdf 5. Standard solutions to interference mitigation, such as cognitive SATCOM spectrum sensing (Cognitive Satellite Radios - SmartSat AUS DSTG), AI driven interference detection, and inter-satellite links exist, but have little empirical data reported for use cases in contested space RF environments 6. The Defence Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) and other US programs have been making significant investment in resilient LEO communications mostly on optical intersatellite links (URL- Space-BACN sizzling along as DARPA awards Phase 2 contracts in laser link project). These programs often broaden in scope and face delays. Although detailed reports are not yet accessible and outcomes will largely stem from heavily funded US industries (https://milivox.media/cubic-afrl-halo-satcom-antenna-contract/ https://govtribe.com/file/government-file/fa865017s9300-call-004-multi-band-directional-satcom-antennas-9jan2024-dot-pdf), focused innovative technical solutions and empirical data present opportunities for Canadian industry and sovereign capabilities. 7. DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has made commitment to resilient LEO communication capabilities as part of its defence strategy and the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) modernization program.