US Space Force awards $615 mln in contracts to three vendors for space-based sensing, targeting tech

Published Aug 5, 03:03 PM UTC

The U.S. Space Force announced $615 million in contracts to three vendors—Rocket Lab, Systems & Technology Research, and an unnamed firm—to mature space-based sensing and targeting capabilities under the Space-Based Air Moving Targeting Indicator (SB-AMTI) program. Rocket Lab confirmed it received $397 million to develop and launch its next-generation 'Flatellite' satellites on its Neutron rocket, designed for large constellations with space-based sensors and low-latency communications. The awards aim to diversify the contractor base and accelerate technology development, following a $4.2 billion contract to SpaceX in May. Col. Ryan Frazier emphasized the importance of competition and vendor diversity, with initial capability delivery expected within 6-12 months and usable capability in orbit by 2028. The Space Force's fiscal 2027 budget includes $7 billion for SB-AMTI satellites and $1 billion for ground-moving target indication from orbit.