The United States is building a new satellite system to track hypersonic weapons following repeated demonstrations of such weapons by China and Russia.
The Pentagon announced two contracts on July 18, worth a combined $1.3 billion, to develop an advanced satellite system expected to be in orbit beginning April 2025.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded the contracts for two prototype missile warning and tracking systems to join the National Defense Space Architecture. The satellite constellations will provide persistent detection, warning, tracking, and identification of both conventional and hypersonic missiles across the world.
The contracts were awarded to L3Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman. Each company will build 14 satellites that will be used to collect infrared data and provide network communications to the greater U.S. defense architecture. The companies will also provide launch services and sustainment for the satellites as part of their respective contracts….