Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif., has awarded Saft of Cockeysville, Md., a multimillion-dollar contract to provide batteries for the fifth and sixth satellites in the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency secure communications system, according to a Feb. 24 announcement from the battery manufacturer.

Lockheed Martin is building six AEHF satellites under a contract worth an estimated $9 billion or more, including associated ground systems. Two of the satellites, designed to provide highly secure strategic and tactical communications, are in orbit.

“Saft is excited to be providing our extremely successful satellite lithium-ion technology for these important US military communications satellites,” Annie Sennet, Saft’s general manager of space and defense, said in the release.

Claire Simmons, a spokeswoman for Saft, declined to disclose the exact value of the contract. 

More than 100 satellites on orbit contain Saft lithium-ion batteries, the company said in a release.