Reuters reports that “satellite companies say the Pentagon is stepping up demand for commercial services as the U.S. Defense Department seeks to cut costs and shore up security of military and spy satellites against attacks by China and other potential foes.”  

“Matt Desch, chief executive of satellite operator Iridium Communications Inc, said he had seen a marked increase in U.S. military demand for commercial services over the past year to augment the capabilities of big military satellites.”  

“‘The concept of working with the commercial industry has really blossomed in the last year,’ Desch told Reuters at the Satellite 2016 conference in National Harbor, Maryland. ‘They’re realizing that these exquisite, purpose-built military systems… are highly at risk because they’re targets. If they lose them, then nobody can talk to anybody.'”