US Space Force confirms SpaceX will build sensor-to-shooter targeting network
Summary
The US Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build a new space-based communication and targeting network called the Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone. This network will use SpaceX’s satellite technology, originally developed for its Starlink internet system, to provide fast, secure, and global communication for military forces.Key Facts
- SpaceX won a $2.29 billion fixed-price contract from the Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
- The contract is to build the Space Data Network Backbone, a space-based sensing and targeting communication system.
- The network will be based on technology from SpaceX’s Starlink satellites and the Starshield platform made for military use.
- The network aims to connect sensors and shooters globally and continuously with secure communications.
- The contract replaces earlier Pentagon plans led by the Space Development Agency (SDA) that faced technical and supply chain issues.
- The new network will still involve multiple vendors, with plans to include more companies, possibly including Amazon.
- The Pentagon’s approach has shifted toward using a single primary contractor (SpaceX) for building the new network.
- Lawmakers have expressed concerns about reduced competition and open architecture due to this shift.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.