Pentagon Invests $11.4 Million to Boost Space Amplifier Manufacturing

The Department of War announced an investment of $11.4 million in Defense Production Act Title III funds to Stellant Systems, aimed at increasing the manufacturability and capability of space-based Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier production at the company’s facility in Torrance, Calif. The funding also supports the administration’s goal of strengthening key space industrial base capabilities, as outlined in the Dec. 18, 2025, Executive Order 14369, “Ensuring American Space Superiority.”

“This manufacturing capability is essential to support existing and future DoW and commercial needs for TWTAs,” said Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy. “This will greatly reduce schedule, cost, and performance risks to U.S. government satellite programs.”

The funds will enable Stellant to conduct pilot production and qualification of a space-based traveling-wave tube amplifier covering the 71-76 gigahertz downlink band, as well as improve the manufacturability of a modernized Dual Digital Electronic Power Conditioner. Traveling-wave tube amplifiers are critical components in most satellite-based communication systems used by commercial, military and national security satellites, and at many frequency and power combinations, they remain the only reliable method for satellite-based radio frequency amplification.

The investment is one of seven Defense Production Act Title III investments, totaling $121.1 million, made by the Department of War’s Warfighting Investments, Resourcing, and Executions directorate since the start of fiscal year 2026. Recipient cost shares for those investments total $15.0 million in fiscal year 2026.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy works with domestic and international partners to build and sustain a resilient industrial base to support warfighters. The office also uses a Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement to solicit research and prototype proposals aimed at strengthening critical supply chain resiliency.

By: BSB News wire