Request for Information: Updates to Satellite Communications Standards

The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), is requesting industry input on proposed changes to Military Standard (MIL-STD) MIL-STD-188-164 (Interoperability of Super High Frequency (SHF) Satellite Communications Terminals) and MIL-STD-188-165 (Interoperability of Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Phase-Shift Keying (PSK) Modems). This RFI aims to gather feedback on the current versions of these standards and to collect insights for future updates, focusing on areas such as Digital IF (DIF) interoperability, testing for Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) Certification, managing non-linearities in Gallium Nitride (GaN) amplifiers, software-to-platform interoperability for Virtual Modems, and implementing transmission security (TRANSEC) with Virtual Modems. Industry Week meetings are scheduled from August 3rd to August 7th, 2026, at NIWC Pacific Topside. While attendance and technical responses are encouraged but not required, companies interested in participating in the Industry Week meetings are asked to RSVP by June 29th, 2026. Responses to this RFI are due via email no later than July 17th, 2026. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the U.S. Government to any contract.