US Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29 billion contract for military space data network
Yahoo Finance • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build the Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone, a secure, high-speed satellite communications network for global military sensor and weapons connectivity.
- The contract requires SpaceX to deliver a fully operational prototype of the SDN Backbone by the end of 2027 under a fixed-price nontraditional agreement.
- The SDN Backbone will support real-time data transfer from missile warning and tracking sensors to interceptors, underpinning missile defense initiatives like the Golden Dome program.
- The network will consist of a proliferated low Earth orbit (pLEO) satellite constellation, enhancing worldwide communication services and integrating with the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer.
- The Space Force plans to select additional contractors over the summer to contribute to satellite construction and other network components.