US Awards $3.5 Billion for Missile Tracking Satellites

The Space Development Agency awarded $3.5 billion in contracts to four defense companies to provide a variety of missile tracking satellites for a low-earth orbit deployment, a significant investment in a part of President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome defense shield.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., L3Harris Technologies Inc. and Rocket Lab USA received contracts to supply the agency with a total of 72 satellites, according to an announcement of the third tranche of such orders.

The spacecraft are capable of providing missile warning and tracking to enhance America’s ability to spot and respond to potential hypersonic ...