On May 20, CACI International Inc announced it has been selected to move forward to Phase 3 of the Enterprise Space Terminal (EST) program as part of ongoing efforts with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC). This marks CACI’s latest significant advancement in its Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) portfolio, underscoring the company’s leadership in delivering innovative, resilient, and mission-ready capabilities in national security across all orbital domains, according to the company.
“CACI’s progress as a prime contractor on the EST program demonstrates how we deliver innovation at mission speed,” said John Mengucci, CACI president and chief executive officer. “With our history of delivering modular OCT systems, proven operational solutions, and expanded capabilities enhanced by the acquisition of ARKA, we are driving the next generation of space communications and sensing. By investing ahead of need, CACI strengthens our nation’s space security and resilience to ensure operational advantage years before requirements are defined.”
In November 2025 during Phase 2 of the EST program, CACI passed critical design review of its EST OCT solution for beyond LEO (bLEO) missions and in January 2026, CACI successfully completed interoperability testing of its EST hardware at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Labs (MIT-LL). During the interoperability testing, CACI successfully demonstrated mission critical performance relevant for all pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) test cases to be used for bLEO missions. Furthermore, CACI demonstrated bi-directional operation with the MIT-LL standard reference modem.
During Phase 3 of the EST program, CACI will leverage its OCT solution and utilize its technologies to build a proto-flight terminal, undergo further interoperability and performance testing at MIT-LL, and deliver the terminal to the USSF for bLEO missions.
Source: CACI
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