The US Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $4.16-billion contract to rapidly develop the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator, with an initial satellite constellation expected to be fielded by 2028.
The US Space Force (USSF) has awarded SpaceX a $4.16-billion contract to rapidly develop the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI), with an initial satellite constellation expected to be fielded by 2028.
SB-AMTI is a system of systems comprising advanced space-based sensors, secure communications networks, and ground infrastructure designed to provide persistent global tracking of airborne targets from space.
The program is intended to complement traditional radar, surveillance aircraft, and other airborne sensing platforms, which face growing challenges from adversaries' anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities.
“By focusing these capabilities to the space domain, we are providing the Joint Force with sustained battlespace awareness of contested airspace,” said USSF Col. Ryan Frazier, acting Space Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Space Based Sensing & Targeting (SBST).
“We are beginning development and integration efforts immediately to meet the program's rapid deployment milestones and address emerging national security requirements.”
Accelerating Efforts
This Other Transaction Agreement, combined with an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity acquisition approach, follows previous USSF contracts for a missile warning and tracking system in low-earth orbit and secure satellite communications network awarded to SpaceX earlier this year.
The award also highlights the force’s push to accelerate procurement through its newly established PAE for SBST office.
To rapidly develop the SB-AMTI, the USSF is not relying on just SpaceX.
The force created a vendor pool that includes traditional and non-traditional companies, with additional contracts expected to be awarded by next year.
Frazier explained that this multi-vendor framework allows them to capitalize on established industry capacity and continuously evaluate and onboard the best tech to field this essential capability at speed and scale.
