Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced it has been awarded a contract by the Japan Ministry of Defense to develop and manufacture a next-generation defense communications satellite and to design the associated ground system.
The contract, signed on February 6, 2026, covers the construction of a next-generation defense satellite communications system. The new satellite will replace the current Kirameki-2 X-band defense communications satellite, which is presently operated by the Japan Ministry of Defense and the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The satellite will be deployed in geostationary orbit.
The award aligns with the Ministry of Defense’s Outline of Space Domain Defense Guidelines, released in July 2025, which designates secure satellite communications (SATCOM) as an operational foundation and a key method for strengthening defense capabilities in the space domain.
Under the contract, Mitsubishi Electric will develop and manufacture the satellite with improved resistance to interference and greater communication capacity compared to the existing Kirameki-2 X-band satellite. The company will apply geostationary communications satellite technologies previously developed for both defense equipment supplied to the Japan Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces and for domestic and international commercial customers.
The new satellite will incorporate a digital communications payload that allows flexible adjustment of beam coverage areas and communications capacity during operation. This design enables the system to adapt to changing communications requirements of the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces.
The ground system, also included in the contract scope, will be designed to maintain safe and stable communications with the satellite.
Mitsubishi Electric stated that the project will establish a defense-communication infrastructure to support the operations of the Japan Ministry of Defense and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
The company indicated that it aims to contribute to Japan’s national security and defense industry base through these efforts.
