The US Space Systems Command has entered into a significant partnership with SpaceX, awarding contracts valued at $739 million for the launch of new missile warning and tracking satellites into low-Earth orbit. This initiative aims to bolster the capabilities of the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), as they work on building advanced satellite constellations designed to detect and track evolving missile threats from space.
These contracts fall under the Pentagon’s National Security Space Launch program, which emphasizes the use of commercial rockets to lower mission costs while maintaining flexibility in mission parameters.
The launched missions are divided into three distinct packages:
The first package, SDA-2, encompasses two missions that will send a total of 18 Tracking Layer satellites, built by L3Harris, into orbit. This package also includes a separate launch for eight Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (F2) Space Vehicles produced by Millennium Space Systems. The F2 spacecraft represents a demonstration project aimed at enhancing US missile defense capabilities against highly maneuverable targets.
Following this, the second package, labeled SDA-3, includes two additional launches that will deploy another 18 Tracking Layer satellites designed by Lockheed Martin. A third component of the contract, referred to as NTO-5, is aligned with a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, although specific details regarding the payload remain undisclosed.
The launch timelines are set, with SDA-2 missions expected to commence in late 2026, while the SDA-3 missions are targeted for mid-2027. The NRO launches are scheduled to take place in early 2027 and again in mid-2028.
This latest collaboration is part of broader US strategic efforts to enhance its space capabilities and improve operational communication among military assets in orbit. Recently, Texas-based GetChkd secured a $1.9-million contract aimed at optimizing Air Force and Space Force satellite communications security using advanced blockchain technology. This system employs an audited digital ledger to limit data access to authorized personnel, securely managing information exchange across both classified and unclassified satellites and command networks.
In a further demonstration of its commitment to operational security, in November 2025, the US Space Force began preparations for two ground-based systems designed to jam reconnaissance satellites from China and Russia, thereby expanding Washington’s abilities to disrupt the surveillance efforts of its adversaries in space.
