Full Breakdown
Kratos Technology Secures $446.8 Million Space Force Contract for Missile Tracking System
3/25/2026, 3:11:32 PM
Overview of the Award
The United States Space Force has awarded Kratos Technology and Training Solutions a contract valued at up to $446.8 million to develop the ground system for its medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation, aimed at tracking ballistic and hypersonic cruise missiles. This contract, formalized on March 17, 2026, is part of the Space Force's Resilient Missile Warning Tracking (MWT) architecture, which includes the initial launches of two iterations, Epoch 1 and Epoch 2.
Project Details and Objectives
Kratos will oversee operations at a ground-based Space Operations Center as part of the Ground Management and Integration (GMI) Other Transaction Authority agreement. This award builds on a previous $55 million task order given to Parsons Corporation in April 2023, which focused on developing hardware and software solutions to enable initial launch capabilities for Epoch 1. The Space Force plans to establish a baseline constellation of approximately 30 Resilient MWT MEO satellites, positioned between 2,000 kilometers and 35,786 kilometers above Earth.
Historical Context and Development
The Resilient MWT program is one of three missile warning and tracking initiatives managed by the Space Force, supporting the Trump administration's Golden Dome initiative. In January 2023, contracts were awarded to Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Boeing’s Millennium Space Systems for the development of Epoch 1 prototypes. However, Raytheon was removed from the program in June 2024 due to technical failures and cost overruns, leading to a $386 million contract awarded to Millennium Space Systems for additional satellites.
Timeline of Key Events
- April 2023: Parsons Corporation awarded a $55 million task order for initial development.
- January 2023: Contracts awarded to Raytheon and Boeing for Epoch 1 prototypes.
- June 2024: Raytheon removed from the program; Millennium Space Systems awarded $386 million for additional satellites.
- June 2025: BAE Systems awarded $1.2 billion to build 10 satellites for Epoch 2.
- Early 2027: Scheduled launch of the first set of nine Epoch 1 satellites.
- Fiscal 2028: Expected delivery of the second set of Epoch 1 satellites.
- Fiscal 2029: Anticipated launch of the first Epoch 2 satellites.
Implications of the Contract
The contract with Kratos is significant for enhancing the United States' missile tracking capabilities, particularly in the context of evolving threats from ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The establishment of a robust MEO satellite constellation is expected to improve the resilience and effectiveness of missile warning systems.
Official Statements & Responses
A spokesperson from the Space Systems Command noted that the GMI contract "builds upon the original contract to support Epoch 1, Epoch 2, and future Epoch launches and operations for MEO space vehicles currently on contract in development and production."
Verbatim Quotes
- “The recent Ground Management and Integration contract award builds upon the original contract to support Epoch 1, Epoch 2, and future Epoch launches and operations for MEO space vehicles (SV) currently on contract in development and production, as well as future SVs to create a resilient MWT architecture,” — Space Systems Command Spokesperson
This contract marks a pivotal step in the Space Force's efforts to enhance national security through advanced missile tracking technologies.
