US Space Force awards $4.16 bn contract to SpaceX for satellite AWACS replacement

The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract to develop and launch the first phase of the Space‑Based Airborne Target Tracking and Intercept (SB‑AMTI) system. SB‑AMTI will consist of a low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellation equipped with AI‑enabled sensors and a military‑grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink (Starshield), intended to assume the surveillance and tracking roles currently performed by vulnerable AWACS aircraft such as the E‑3 Sentry.

The contract aims to provide continuous, global monitoring of airborne, missile and ground targets, improving survivability against advanced anti‑access/area‑denial defenses. The initial satellite deployment is planned for 2028, earlier than earlier U.S. estimates. The program is coordinated with the National Reconnaissance Office and follows the cancellation of the Australian E‑7 Wedgetail purchase after congressional intervention.