US Space Force Awards SpaceX $2.29 Billion Contract for Military Space Data Network
SpaceX will build a secure satellite backbone that links military sensors and weapons systems, with a fully operational prototype due by the end of 2027.
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build the Space Data Network Backbone, a secure satellite communications network designed to connect military sensors and weapons platforms globally using Starshield satellites.
- The Pentagon restructured satellite acquisition efforts before Tranche 3 procurements, shifting emphasis toward the Space Data Network, consolidating major future satellite work under SpaceX compared to earlier Transport Layer acquisitions distributed across multiple vendors.
- Military officials prioritize the network because missile-tracking satellites can rapidly transmit targeting data through orbital relay networks to command systems with minimal delay; Space Force Colonel Ryan Frazier, acting portfolio acquisition executive, said it 'leverages the best of commercial innovation and delivers a strong foundation for the SDN mission set.'
- SpaceX must deliver a fully operational prototype by the end of 2027, while the Space Force plans to identify additional contractors this summer for satellite construction and will integrate the backbone with the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer constellation.
- The Trump administration's fiscal year 2027 budget request includes nearly $1.5 billion in research and development funding for the SDN Backbone plus $2.38 billion in procurement funding, as the Space Force established an SDN consortium to coordinate interoperability standards among participating vendors.
22 Articles
22 Articles
US Space Force Awards SpaceX $2.29 Billion Contract to Build Space Data Highway
The U.S. Space Force has agreed to a $2.29 billion contract with SpaceX to build a high-speed satellite communications network to connect military sensors and weapons platforms across the globe, the service said on May 26. The fixed-price nontraditional contracting agreement covers the Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone, a resilient network architecture that provides high-capacity, low-latency data transport for the military. Among other roles…
SpaceX Wins $2.29 Billion Contract for Satellite Communications Network
The U.S. Space Force has contracted SpaceX for $2.29 billion to create the Space Data Network. This satellite network will facilitate military communications worldwide, with an operational prototype by 2027. It aims to integrate data from sensors to interceptors, supporting missile defense initiatives.
USSF Gives SpaceX $2.29B for New Data Network ‘Backbone’
Space Systems Command has awarded a massive $2.29 billion contract to SpaceX for the “backbone” of its new Space Data Network, a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit that will provide connectivity for the entire joint force. SDN is the Space Force’s new program to transport data from sensors to shooters around the globe, combining both military and commercial satellites to manage both tactical and enterprise communication needs. The “…
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SpaceX is building a satellite network that will connect military sensors and weapons platforms around the world.
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