The ESS program is the next-generation Nuclear Command, Control and
Communications (NC3) satellite constellation, replacing the legacy AEHF
system with a more resilient strategic communications architecture. In July 2025,
the U.S. Space Force awarded Boeing a $2.8 billion contract to develop and
deliver the first two ESS satellites, with options for additional spacecraft under
the broader $12 billion ESS Space Segment program.

Through BAE Systems, iTest HiRel provides advanced semiconductor qualification,
reliability engineering, and mission-assurance services utilizing its Post-Design
Silicon Enablement™ methodology, including wafer- and package-level qualification,
accelerated reliability testing, environmental stress screening, and failure analysis to
support mission-critical aerospace and defense applications.

“We are honored to support BAE Systems and The Boeing Company on one
of the nation’s most critical strategic defense programs. The ESS program
reflects the future of resilient space communications, and iTest HiRel is proud
to contribute our semiconductor qualification and mission-assurance expertise
to help ensure the highest levels of reliability.”

_____  Zef Malik, President of iTest HiRel

iTest HiRel is a U.S.-based engineering organization specializing in Post-Design
Silicon Enablement™ for aerospace, defense, and space applications. The company
bridges the gap between completed silicon designs and operational readiness by
delivering advanced engineering, semiconductor qualification, reliability validation,
mission assurance, wafer sort, package characterization, and custom application-
specific qualification solutions that accelerate deployment of trusted semiconductor
technologies into mission-critical systems.

For more information regarding Boeing’s Mobile User Objective System Service Life Extension
(MUOS SLE) announcement, please visit Boeing’s official news release.