The U.S. Space Force announced Friday that it has granted Elon Musk’s SpaceX a massive $4.16 billion contract to develop a program that will detect and monitor airborne threats from orbit.
Known as the Space-Based Advanced Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI), the system will function as an integrated network combining orbital sensors, protected communication channels, and terrestrial data processing to enhance collaboration throughout the government’s space industry partners.
According to the Space Force, multiple companies are part of the SB-AMTI contractor group, with SpaceX among them, and additional contracts will be distributed over the next twelve months.
“This initial award is projected to field a constellation of satellites by 2028, providing the Joint Force with an early capability to eliminate operational blind spots,” the agency stated in its announcement.
SpaceX, which announced its initial public offering plans earlier this month, is seeking a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion.
Just days ago, the Space Force granted SpaceX another major contract worth $2.29 billion to construct a protected, high-speed satellite communication system that will link military sensors and weapons platforms worldwide.
