The U.S. Space Force has awarded a five-year, $212 million task order to CACI International to overhaul network infrastructure across all 14 service bases, marking a critical step in modernizing the digital backbone of space operations amid escalating cybersecurity threats.
Modernizing the Digital Backbone
The task order, issued under the Department of the Air Force’s $12.5 billion Base Infrastructure Modernization (BIM) contract, targets both classified and unclassified networks at installations including Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado, and Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. The upgrade aims to deliver resilient, high-throughput connectivity capable of supporting zero trust security architectures and cloud-based applications.
CACI is one of 22 vendors selected for the 10-year BIM indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle, which allows the government to award individual task orders as requirements evolve rather than issuing a single fixed-scope contract. This model provides the military with flexibility to adapt to changing operational needs over time.
Legacy Systems Under Strain
Many of the Space Force’s current base networks were built years ago and were not designed to handle today’s data volumes, cybersecurity threats, or cloud-centric operations. The BIM program addresses this by shifting from traditional periodic refresh cycles to an enterprise IT as a service model, where contractors are responsible for installing, sustaining, and continuously updating infrastructure.
The Air Force has already awarded BIM task orders to General Dynamics Information Technology and CACI, covering both Air Force and Space Force locations. For the Space Force, which operates data-intensive satellite constellations and ground systems, network performance is increasingly tied to operational readiness.
Strategic Implications for Contested Environments
The modernization effort comes as the Pentagon faces mounting pressure to secure military networks against cyber attacks and electronic disruption expected early in any conflict. For the Space Force, upgrading base infrastructure is not merely a matter of efficiency—it is a direct requirement for maintaining mission assurance in contested domains.
As the service continues to expand its satellite architectures and ground control systems, the success of the BIM program will determine whether Space Force bases can support the high-throughput, low-latency connectivity needed for next-generation space operations. The shift to a service-based IT model signals that the Pentagon views network resilience as an enduring operational requirement, not a periodic upgrade.
– Originally reported by SpaceNews. Adapted and republished with editorial context for SpaceSecurityNews.
