In this episode of The SSPI Podcast, part of the Space & Satellite Futures track, Tamara Bond-Williams welcomes XTAR back to the SSPI community in a conversation with Pat Rayermann, Chief Executive Officer of XTAR.

Pat shares how XTAR became a pioneer in commercial military X-band satellite communications, serving government and military customers in a segment where reliability, trust and mission assurance are essential. He explains why X-band continues to matter, how XTAR is adapting through next-generation satellites with X-band, military Ka-band and UHF payloads, and what it means to operate a focused SATCOM company in a rapidly changing market.

The conversation also explores space safety, orbital debris, satellite replacement, maneuverability, refueling, NATO and multinational SATCOM cooperation, and why resilience depends on a diverse mix of commercial and military capabilities. Pat also reflects on his long relationship with SSPI and why he brought XTAR back into the community as a returning corporate member.