Orbital Overwatch: US Space Force Diversifies Airborne Tracking with $615M Contract

Surveillance Shift: From Air to Orbit

The U.S. Space Force is accelerating its transition from vulnerable airborne reconnaissance to persistent orbital surveillance. According to SpaceNews, the service has awarded $615 million in contracts to Rocket Lab, Systems & Technology Research (STR), and an undisclosed third party to mature the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI) architecture.

The Flatellite Offensive

Rocket Lab emerged as the primary beneficiary of this tranche, securing a $397 million firm-fixed-price agreement. The California-based firm will develop, launch, and operate multiple "Flatellites"—a next-generation, high-bandwidth satellite design optimized for massive constellations. These assets are slated for deployment via Rocket Lab’s upcoming Neutron rocket and will provide low-latency tracking data on aircraft and cruise missiles from secure ground facilities.

Diversifying the Supply Chain

This second task order follows a massive $4.16 billion baseline award to SpaceX. Col. Ryan Frazier, acting portfolio acquisition executive, noted that these new partnerships are essential for diversifying technical solutions and ensuring the Pentagon does not rely on a single vendor for its sensing needs.

STR, a specialist in AI and signal processing, will contribute advanced sensor technology to the project. The SB-AMTI initiative is designed to replace traditional surveillance aircraft, like the AWACS, which are increasingly at risk from modern long-range air defenses. By shifting these sensors to a proliferated satellite network, the Space Force gains a global, unblinking eye capable of tracking fighter jets, bombers, and hypersonic weapons without placing crews in harm’s way.