Strengthening the Shield: The US Space Force’s $3.5 Billion Bet on the Future
Strengthening the Shield: The US Space Force’s $3.5 Billion Bet on the Future The U.S. Space Force is officially leveling up its eyes in the sky. In a massive move to modernize national defense, the Space Development Agency (SDA) just greenlit $3.5 billion in contracts to build out the third generation of its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This isn't just about adding more hardware to orbit; it’s about a fundamental shift in how the U.S. tracks and defends against high-tech threats. The Big Four: Who’s Building What? The SDA divided the work among four major players in the aerospace industry. Each company is tasked with building 18 satellites , bringing the total for this "Tranche 3" rollout to 72. Here is how the $3.5 billion breaks down: Company Award Amount Focus Lockheed Martin $1.1 Billion Missile Warning, Tracking, & Defense (MWTD) L3Harris $843 Million Missile Warning & Missile Tracking (MW/MT) Rocket Lab $805 Million Missile Warning, Tra...