The U.S. Space Force awards SpaceX a major contract to develop the Space Data Network (SDN) backbone, a military communications architecture designed to deliver high-capacity, low-latency data transport. Multiple outlets report that the agreement is a fixed-price, nontraditional contracting arrangement covering the SDN Backbone. The work is described as building a resilient network intended to support the Space Force’s operational needs. Space News and Free Malaysia Today specifically cite a value of about US$2.29 billion for the SDN Backbone development. Channel NewsAsia also reports Space Force awards to SpaceX but presents a different deal figure in one report, stating a $4.16 billion contract; other provided summaries focus on the $2.29 billion figure tied to the SDN Backbone. Taken together, the coverage indicates the Space Force is funding SpaceX to create or expand the SDN Backbone as part of its broader space data communications capability, with the contract structure described as fixed-price and nontraditional.