The U.S. Space Force has awarded BAE Systems a significant $1.2 billion contract for the development and delivery of 10 cutting-edge missile-tracking satellites. This substantial investment underscores the growing need for enhanced missile defense capabilities in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats.
The contract, awarded to BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems on May 29th, is part of the Resilient Missile Warning Tracking Epoch 2 program. This second phase builds upon the Space Force's ongoing efforts to create a robust missile-tracking network in medium Earth orbit (MEO). The program specifically targets the evolving threat landscape, particularly hypersonic weapons, which have become a major concern for U.S. defense strategists.
Based in Broomfield, Colorado, BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace) will be responsible for designing and constructing these advanced satellites. These satellites are engineered to detect and track a diverse array of threats, ranging from large, easily detectable intercontinental ballistic missiles to smaller, more challenging hypersonic missiles. Their data will be integrated into the broader national missile defense architecture.
“This allows for additional resiliency in the missile warning and tracking satellite architecture,” stated Lt. Col. Brandon Castillo, materiel leader at the Epoch 2 program office. The first delivery of these crucial satellites is scheduled for fiscal year 2029.
The Space Systems Command is collaborating closely with the Space Development Agency and the Missile Defense Agency to ensure the cost-effectiveness and proliferation of satellites in both low and medium Earth orbits. This project builds upon the success of Epoch 1, which will see the launch of 12 satellites by Millennium Space Systems in late 2026 and 2027.
The MEO satellite constellation is a key part of the Department of Defense's multi-orbit layered missile defense architecture, a plan initiated under the Trump administration's Golden Dome initiative. MEO’s strategic advantage lies in its ability to provide broader coverage than low Earth orbit systems while simultaneously offering superior resolution and reduced signal delay compared to geostationary satellites.