Space Force awards a $1.2 billion contract to build ground sensors to track orbiting space objects

April 14, 2020
The initial contract is worth $23 million, and help experts understand the space ecosystem, make quick modifications, and introduce new capabilities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Space Force in Washington has awarded L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Fla., a contract worth as much as $1.2 billion for the upkeep and modernization of the military’s ground-based sensors that track objects and activities in space. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

14 April 2020 -- The contract, which could last as long as 10 years, is part of the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities, or MOSSAIC, program. That contract is a follow-on to the Systems Engineering and Sustainment Integrator program, which L3Harris won in 2002.

L3Harris officials say the contract covered sustainment services for current and future ground-based space domain awareness sensors and space battle management command and control capabilities.

This new contract expands the previous scope of work, which had focused on the U.S. Air Force’s Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System. That program includes three radars that track objects in geostationary orbits. The new contract also provides support to space situational awareness centers in California, Colorado, and Virginia.

Related: L3Harris to sustain space electro-optical surveillance systems that track high-altitude satellites

Related: U.S. military seeks to maintain and improve on hypersonic missile defense using orbiting satellites

Related: Space Fence goes operational; orbital tracker radar from Lockheed Martin should be able to follow everything

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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