The US Space Systems Command has awarded SpaceX a series of contracts to launch next-generation missile warning and tracking satellites into low-Earth orbit, strengthening America’s space-based defense architecture. The launches will support the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) as they deploy new satellite constellations designed to detect and track advanced missile threats in real time.
Valued at $739 million, the contracts fall under the Pentagon’s National Security Space Launch program, which leverages commercial launch providers to lower costs for missions with flexible scheduling and performance requirements. The awards cover three separate mission packages supporting both overt and classified national security objectives.
The first mission set, designated SDA-2, includes two launches carrying a combined total of 18 Tracking Layer satellites built by L3Harris. A third SDA-2 launch will deploy eight Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (F2) spacecraft manufactured by Millennium Space Systems. The F2 vehicles are part of a demonstration program intended to enhance US missile defense capabilities against highly maneuverable and complex threats.
A second package, known as SDA-3, adds two additional launches that will place 18 Tracking Layer satellites produced by Lockheed Martin into orbit. These satellites are designed to improve persistent missile detection and tracking across multiple regions, supporting integrated missile defense and joint force operations.
The third mission, labeled NTO-5, supports a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload, with details remaining undisclosed. Launches for SDA-2 are scheduled to begin in late 2026, followed by SDA-3 missions in mid-2027. The NRO missions are planned for early 2027 and mid-2028.
The SpaceX awards come amid broader US efforts to enhance space resilience and military communications. Recent initiatives include a $1.9 million contract awarded to GetChkd to strengthen Air Force and Space Force satellite communications using blockchain technology, as well as preparations announced in late 2025 to deploy ground-based systems capable of jamming adversary reconnaissance satellites.
