US Space Force Awards $615M in AMTI Contracts to Rocket Lab, STR, and Unnamed Firm to Diversify from SpaceX

Published Aug 6, 04:00 PM UTC

The U.S. Space Force has awarded three new contracts totaling $615 million to Rocket Lab, STR, and an unnamed company to develop space-based airborne moving target indicator (AMTI) satellites. This move is intended to reduce reliance on SpaceX, which received a $4.16 billion contract for the same capability two months earlier. The contracts are firm-fixed-price other-transaction authority agreements. Rocket Lab received the largest share at $397 million to build and launch its 'Flatellites.' The diversification effort follows the heavy damage to an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft during the Iran war, which underscored the need for survivable platforms. Col. Ryan Frazier stated the goal is to avoid a single technical solution and explore unique innovations. The awards represent a fraction of SpaceX's contract value, but officials emphasize building a robust industrial base for resilient space architecture.