9 March 2026 – Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an EchoStar company, today announced it has received an award from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Rapid Architecture Prototyping and Integration Development (RAPID) program for intelligent space data networks that integrates Department of War (DoW), allied, and commercial satellite communication networks. The goal of this contract is to enhance network resilience and ensure reliable connectivity by efficiently routing data across both space and terrestrial infrastructures. Read more