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11 clusters · 40 sources · 75 days · First seen 3 months ago · Last updated about 23 hours ago

US Space Force satellite & launch contracts

Entities: Golden Dome missile‑defense initiative · United States Space Force · Eric Zarybnisky · Golden Dome missile defense program · All Points Logistics

Overview

Mid‑May 2026 the Space Force’s Space Systems Command opened a series of contracts to modernise tactical satellite communications, awarding Northrop Grumman a prototype PTS‑P and Viasat four small GEO PTS‑G satellites. In early June the focus shifted to low‑Earth‑orbit constellations: SpaceX received a $2.29 billion Space Data Network Backbone award and a $4.16 billion SB‑AMTI contract, bringing its total to over $6.5 billion. Boeing won a competitive contract of up to $2 billion to add two next‑generation narrow‑band UHF MUOS satellites (first launch slated for 2031) and a Phase II life‑extension to keep the system operational through 2035. July 2026 saw the finalisation of those awards. Boeing’s MUOS Service Life Extension was valued at up to $2.2 billion for the two UHF satellites, while SpaceX secured two contracts totaling roughly $6.5 billion — $4.16 billion for an Airborne Moving Target Indicator constellation and $2.29 billion for the Space Data Network that will serve missile‑defence and sensor‑data communications. Lawmakers warned that concentrating such large procurements with a single supplier could damage competition and the long‑term health of the U.S. space industrial base. On 7 July 2026 the Space Force broadened its launch‑provider pool, adding Impulse Space and Relativity Federal to the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 IDIQ contract, raising the eligible providers to seven (SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Stoke Space, Impulse Space, Relativity Federal) under a $5.6 billion ceiling, with each new firm receiving a $5 million task order for capability assessments. The expansion supports the service’s $15.6 billion annual acquisition programme and is intended to improve resiliency and reduce reliance on a single launch provider.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 11 SOURCES] SpaceX was awarded a contract worth $1.6 billion by the U.S. Space Force. (all)
[● 11 SOURCES] The contract covers 18 Falcon 9 launches through 2027. (all)
[● 11 SOURCES] The launches will carry Pentagon satellites designed to detect and track airborne objects. (all)
[● 11 SOURCES] The contract is under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program, involving two task orders. (all)
[● 7 SOURCES] The contract supports the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile‑defense initiative. (all)
[● 7 SOURCES] SpaceX has secured at least $7 billion in Pentagon contracts this year. (all)
[● 7 SOURCES] U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern about reliance on a single launch provider for defense missions. (all)

Timeline

about 23 hours ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 16 sources
SpaceX awarded $1.6 billion US Space Force contract for 18 Falcon 9 launches
SpaceX won a $1.6 billion US Space Force contract for 18 Falcon 9 launches through 2027, supporting SBST satellites for airborne threat detection and the Golden Dome missile‑defense program.
21 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
U.S. Space Force expands launch provider pool to seven companies
The U.S. Space Force added Impulse Space and Relativity Federal to its NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts, expanding the launch provider pool to seven and assigning each a $5 million task order.
24 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
U.S. Space Force awards satellite contracts worth $8.7 billion to Boeing and SpaceX
The U.S. Space Force awarded Boeing a $2.2 billion MUOS satellite extension contract and gave SpaceX $6.5 billion for AMTI and a Space Data Network, sparking competition concerns.
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
Boeing wins up to $2 billion US Space Force contract for two narrowband satellites
The U.S. Space Force awarded Boeing a contract worth up to $2 billion for two narrowband UHF communications satellites under the MUOS Service Life Extension program, with delivery slated for 2031.
about 1 month ago

[BUSINESS] 5 sources
Boeing awarded $2 billion Space Force MUOS satellite contract
Boeing secured a up‑to‑$2 billion Space Force contract to design, build and test two MUOS communications satellites, with delivery slated for 2035 after beating Lockheed Martin.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
SpaceX secures multi‑billion dollar Pentagon contracts, boosting U.S. defense capabilities
SpaceX wins over $6.5 billion in Pentagon contracts for satellite communications and missile‑tracking systems, highlighting its fast launch capability and raising single‑supplier concerns.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
US Space Force awards $4.16 bn contract to SpaceX for satellite AWACS replacement
The U.S. Space Force has signed a $4.16 bn deal with SpaceX to launch a low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellation (SB‑AMTI) that will replace AWACS aircraft, offering continuous global target tracking from space,
2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
US Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29 billion contract for military satellite network
The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build the Space Data Network Backbone, a pLEO satellite system for secure, low‑latency military communications, with a prototype due by end‑2027.
2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
U.S. Space Force Awards $438 Million Contracts to Viasat and Intelsat General
The U.S. Space Force awarded Viasat and Intelsat General a combined $438 million contract to develop PTS‑G resilient tactical satellites, with production starting FY 2026 and first launch slated for 2028.
2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
US Space Force awards $437M to Viasat, SES for military satellite network
The US Space Force awarded Viasat and SES a $437 million contract to build four geostationary satellites for the Protected Tactical Satcom‑Global “swarm” network, slated for delivery by 2029.
3 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
US Space Force awards Northrop Grumman $398 M for Enhanced Tactical Satellite Communications prototype
The U.S. Space Force awarded Northrop Grumman $398 M to build an Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications prototype.

Sources

bagimsizhavacilar.com · breakingdefense.com · creadores.org · ctoutiao.com · defence-industry.eu · defensedaily · erzsebetter.hu · exterrajsc.com · forexinfo.it · govconwire.com · indyturk.com · insidedefense.com · instapundit.com · interestingengineering.com · it-boltwise.de · ithome.com · keeptrack.space · kelo.com · keyt.com · kfgo.com · kienthuc.net.vn · kosmonautix.cz · mirador.lu · mirrorreview.com · moneymarket.com · news.az · news.satnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · newsbytesapp.com · parabolicarc.com · perthnow.com.au · spacenews.com · technoblitz.it · theneutral.pk · thenextweb.com · transportengineer.org.uk · tuoitre.vn · viasatellite.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com