US Firm Secures Airbus Contract for Oman Satellite Project: What This Means for Investors and Business Growth in Oman
Muscat: US technology company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been selected by Airbus Defence and Space to support the development of OmanSat-1, Oman’s first national communications satellite. The satellite is scheduled for launch in September 2028, with operations beginning in May 2029.
In November, Airbus secured a contract from Space Communication Technologies (SCT), Oman’s national satellite operator, to design, manufacture, and launch OmanSat-1, utilizing Airbus’s OneSat platform.
Kratos, based in San Diego, will provide a multimillion-dollar integrated ground system designed to optimize the capabilities of the software-defined OmanSat-1 satellite. Elodie Viau, Senior Vice President for Telecommunications and Navigation at Airbus Defence and Space, emphasized that Kratos’s ground system will operate seamlessly with the satellite. This will enable SCT to deliver high-throughput connectivity with enhanced operational flexibility, supporting Oman and the wider region, while also positioning services for expansion into East African and East Asian markets.
Kratos’s ground segment responsibilities include configuring and managing the satellite, fine-tuning and deploying the payload with integrated Airbus components, monitoring end-to-end system performance from space to ground, and managing key mission operations. The system will feature Ka-band TT&C antennas, monitoring and control software, carrier-monitoring capabilities, as well as command, control, flight-dynamics, and orchestration functions.
Additionally, Kratos plans to establish an office in Oman to carry out site surveys, install and commission equipment, provide training, and deliver ongoing support.
SCT, wholly owned by the Omani government through ITHCA (part of the Oman Investment Authority), will operate OmanSat-1 upon its launch. SCT also serves as the lead centre for Oman’s National Satellite Programme, developing satellite communication infrastructure for both public and private sector use.
OmanSat-1, a fully digital and in-orbit reconfigurable satellite, will provide high-capacity Ka-band coverage primarily over Oman and its economic waters, as well as across the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia. Its adaptable design will enable SCT to meet growing demand for high-throughput services across government and private networks, including sectors such as oil and gas, banking, broadband, maritime, and aeronautical connectivity. SCT aims to become a significant player in these markets.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The development of OmanSat-1 represents a strategic leap for Oman’s telecommunications and satellite capabilities, offering high-throughput connectivity and operational flexibility across diverse sectors regionally and beyond. For businesses, this creates opportunities in enhanced digital services, oil & gas, banking, and maritime sectors, while smart investors should consider the emerging satellite infrastructure as a gateway to regional expansion and tech-driven growth in Oman and neighbouring markets.
