MDA SPACE UNVEILS MDA AURORA™ BLACK, A DEFENCE-FOCUSED SOFTWARE-DEFINED SATELLITE

MDA Space expands its AURORA satellite line with a defence-optimized variant aimed at secure, sovereign military communications demand.

Rhea-AI Summary

MDA Space (MDA) has introduced MDA AURORA™ BLACK, a defence-focused extension of its MDA AURORA™ software-defined satellite line, designed to deliver secure, resilient and agile MILSATCOM for government and military users.

The new product adds enhanced protection and resilience features, including secure end-to-end connections, onboard anti-jamming, resistance to GPS spoofing, and perimeter and proximity sensing to support mission assurance in contested environments. MDA AURORA™ BLACK is available across the existing MDA AURORA™ direct-to-device and broadband product lines, targeting growing international demand for sovereign, space-based defence communications infrastructure.

Key Figures

Defence satellites launched: 107 satellites Government space defence expenditures: More than US$40 billion

Defence satellites launched

107 satellites

Globally in 2023, according to Novaspace research

Government space defence expenditures

More than US$40 billion

Contracted to industry in 2023, according to Novaspace research

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Aug 04

1 event

1. Aug 04

   Contract award

   24h Move

   +6.4%

   Award expanded MDA AURORA broadband satellite work for Telesat Lightspeed by $474 million.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

software-defined satellite, anti-jamming, gps spoofing, satcom

4 terms

software-defined satellite technical

"extension of the company's MDA AURORA™ software-defined satellite product line"

A software-defined satellite is a spacecraft whose functions — such as communications, data routing, and mission settings — can be changed or upgraded by writing new software instead of swapping hardware. Like a smartphone that gets new apps and features over time instead of a fixed-function device, this flexibility can extend a satellite’s useful life, enable new revenue streams, reduce replacement costs, and allow operators to respond faster to market demand or technical issues, which matters to investors evaluating growth, risk and capital efficiency.

anti-jamming technical

"onboard anti-jamming capabilities"

Techniques and systems designed to prevent or reduce intentional or accidental disruption of radio, satellite, or wireless signals so communications keep working reliably. For investors, anti-jamming matters because it protects the value and usability of products and services that depend on clean signals — like navigation, military systems, or connected devices — and can be a competitive advantage or a regulatory requirement. Think of it like traffic control that keeps cars moving smoothly even when someone tries to block the road.

gps spoofing technical

"resistance to GPS spoofing"

An attack that broadcasts fake Global Positioning System signals to make receivers believe they are in a different place or time. Like feeding a wrong set of directions to a GPS, spoofing can disrupt ships, aircraft, delivery vehicles, timing systems and some trading or market-data hardware that rely on precise location and clocks; investors care because it can interrupt operations, delay goods, corrupt time‑stamped records or trigger regulatory and financial impacts.

satcom technical

"Sovereign, defence-specific SATCOM capabilities"

Satcom, short for satellite communications, uses orbiting satellites as relay stations to send and receive voice, data and video between distant or hard-to-reach locations, effectively acting like cell towers in space. It matters to investors because satcom services support broadband, broadcasting, defense links and connected devices, often producing steady customer revenue but requiring large upfront costs, regulatory approvals and sensitivity to launch technology and spectrum access — all factors that influence company value.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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New product provides enhanced MILSATCOM capabilities to maintain the integrity of contested space-based operations

TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MDA Space Ltd. (TSX: MDA) (NYSE: MDA), a trusted mission partner to the global defence and space industry, introduces MDA AURORA™ BLACK, an extension of the company's MDA AURORA™ software-defined satellite product line, purpose-built to deliver secure, resilient, and agile communications for government and military customers.

Building on existing features that ensure flexibility, scalability and performance, MDA AURORA™ BLACK adds layers of protection and resilience against cyber, physical and other evolving threats, ensuring reliable connectivity for defence operations.

With enhanced features such as a secure end-to-end connection, onboard anti-jamming capabilities, resistance to GPS spoofing, and perimeter and proximity sensing, MDA AURORA™ BLACK offers elevated mission assurance in contested environments.

"Defence organizations are operating in increasingly complex and contested environments where connectivity is mission-critical and threats to it are real," said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. "MDA AURORA™ BLACK is designed to bring the agility of our software-defined satellite product into the defence domain, helping countries maintain tactical and strategic communications that are essential to data-centric operations. High-volume production will ensure defence departments globally can achieve near term, secure, sovereign military satellite communications."

MDA AURORA™ BLACK responds to growing international demand for sovereign and resilient space-based defence communications infrastructure and is available across MDA AURORA™ direct-to-device and broadband product lines.

"Sovereign, defence-specific SATCOM capabilities are a core part of modern military operations around the globe, and, as governments increase their investment in SATCOM-enabled defence capabilities, defence optimized capabilities like those MDA AURORA™ BLACK offers will be critical to securing assured command and control," said Nathan de Ruiter, Senior Partner at consulting & market intelligence firm Novaspace. "The numbers tell the story. Based on NovaSpace research, in 2023, 107 proprietary defence satellites were launched globally, with more than $US40 billion of government space defence and security expenditures contracted to industry. Companies like MDA Space that are bringing sovereign, secure, high-volume satellite solutions to market are well positioned to meet this demand."

For more information, visit mda.space/aurora

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects MDA Space's current expectations regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the capabilities and features of MDA AURORA™ BLACK and the ultimate market demand for any of MDA Space's products.  Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by MDA Space in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of MDA Space to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including without limitation the risks and uncertainties detailed under the "Risk Factors" section of MDA Space's annual information form dated March 4, 2026 and MDA Space's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, each of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Although MDA Space believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. There are a number of additional risks and uncertainties affecting or that could affect MDA Space, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those described in, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information included within this press release. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, MDA Space is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ABOUT MDA SPACE

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) (NYSE:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global defence and space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 4,000 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission — bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that's been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we'll take you there. For more information, visit mda.space.

SOCIAL MEDIA

LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/company/MDAspace 
X: X.com/MDA_space 
Facebook: Facebook.com/MDAspace
YouTube: YouTube.com/c/MDAspace
Instagram: Instagram.com/MDA_space 

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SOURCE MDA Space

FAQ

What specific capabilities does MDA AURORA™ BLACK add for defence customers?

MDA AURORA™ BLACK introduces several defence-focused enhancements, including a secure end-to-end connection, onboard anti-jamming capabilities, resistance to GPS spoofing, and perimeter and proximity sensing. These features are intended to increase mission assurance and maintain reliable connectivity in complex and contested operational environments.

Across which product lines is MDA AURORA™ BLACK available?

MDA AURORA™ BLACK is available across the existing MDA AURORA™ direct-to-device and MDA AURORA™ broadband product lines, extending these offerings with defence-optimized, sovereign MILSATCOM capabilities.

How does MDA AURORA™ BLACK align with evolving defence SATCOM demand?

The company states that MDA AURORA™ BLACK responds to growing international demand for sovereign and resilient space-based defence communications infrastructure, as governments increase investment in SATCOM-enabled defence capabilities. A cited NovaSpace study notes that in 2023 there were 107 proprietary defence satellites launched globally and more than US$40 billion in government space defence and security expenditures contracted to industry.

Where can interested parties find more information about MDA AURORA™ BLACK?

More information is available at mda.space/aurora. MDA Space also highlights its social media presence on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for additional content and updates.