Gilat DataPath wins $32m U.S. defense order for multi-band DKET systems

Gilat DataPath, the defense subsidiary of Israel-headquartered satellite networking group Gilat Satellite Networks (NASDAQ: GILT), has received an order worth more than $32 million from the U.S. Department of War for Deployable Kit Equipment Terminal (DKET) systems. The platforms operate across Ku, Ka and X-band frequency ranges, and deliveries are scheduled over the next 12 months.

The contract represents what Gilat describes as a significant expansion of its established DKET programme. The DKET systems are designed for rapid transport and deployment at alternate locations, enabling military customers to restore or establish high-capacity satellite communications quickly in dynamic operational environments, a capability the company positions as strategically important for continuity of operations.

Nicole Robinson, President of Gilat DataPath, said: "When critical connectivity needs to be established or restored quickly and reliably, mobility becomes a strategic advantage. Our proven transportable gateway solutions give customers the flexibility to rapidly enable and sustain communications wherever operational requirements demand."

The deal

Gilat did not disclose the programme name, the precise end-user unit, or the specific satellite networks the DKET terminals will access. The order follows Gilat Defense's established track record in U.S. military communications programmes and, according to the company, supports its broader ambition to grow across allied markets beyond the United States.

Gilat DataPath is one of three wholly owned subsidiaries in Gilat's defense division, alongside Gilat Wavestream and Gilat Stellar Blu. The group offers a portfolio spanning software-defined modems, electronically steered antennas, solid-state power amplifiers, and integrated ground systems, all oriented toward multi-orbit and very high throughput satellite (VHTS) architectures.

Market context

The market for military satellite ground infrastructure has grown materially over the past three years, driven by the U.S. Department of Defense's accelerated adoption of commercial satellite capacity and the lessons drawn from contested-communications environments in active conflict zones. Multi-band capability, which allows terminals to shift between Ku, Ka and X-band depending on availability and interference conditions, has become a procurement priority as military planners seek resilience against jamming and link degradation.

Gilat competes in this segment alongside a number of established U.S. prime contractors and specialist ground-systems integrators, including ViaSat, Hughes Network Systems (owned by EchoStar) and General Dynamics Mission Systems. The transportable gateway category also overlaps with emerging low-earth orbit (LEO) user-terminal programmes, where terminals must support rapid reconfiguration across constellations. Gilat's positioning across both commercial and defense satellite markets gives it cross-programme engineering leverage, though the company faces ongoing competitive pressure from vendors with deeper U.S. domestic supply chains.

Regulatory and export considerations

Defense satellite communications hardware sold to U.S. government customers is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and, for foreign-manufactured components, Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Gilat, headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel, has operated under these frameworks for decades and maintains U.S.-based operations through its DataPath subsidiary, which was acquired to provide domestic delivery and integration capability. The company noted that the order supports growth in both U.S. and allied markets, which may point to potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) follow-on work, though no specifics were disclosed.

With deliveries expected to complete within 12 months, investors will be watching for any indication of follow-on task orders or programme extensions, as well as updates on margin profile given the hardware and logistics-intensive nature of field-deployable terminal programmes.