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Space Systems Command Looks To Launch Missile Warning Space Vehicles

The command's task order awards total $739 million.

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) Assured Access To Space (AATS) and Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30) teams successfully launch the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer-B (T1TL-B) mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-4 East at 7:12 a.m. PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Sept. 10, 2025. Credit: SpaceX

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command Assured Access To Space and Space Launch Delta 30 teams successfully launch the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer-B mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-4 East at 7:12 a.m. PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, September 10, 2025. Credit: SpaceX

The U.S. Space Force’s (USSF’s) Space Systems Command has awarded nine National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 launches to multiple entities, for a total of $739 million, in an effort to enhance missile warning and missile tracking capabilities.

According to a Space Systems Command press release, the task order awards provide the Space Development Agency (SDA) and National Reconnaissance Office with launches.

The SDA-2 task order will provide two launches for 18 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Space Vehicles built by L3Harris, plus another two launches for 18 by Lockheed Martin through the SDA-3 task order.

SDA-2 will also provide one launch for eight of Millennium Space Systems’ Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter Space Vehicles, which is an eight-vehicle low-Earth-orbit demonstration satellite constellation with advanced missile defense capabilities.

The NTO-5 task order supports a National Reconnaissance Office mission set, the release stated.

According to Space Systems Command, SpaceX has been awarded the SDA-2 missions for launches starting in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, the SDA-3 missions for launches starting in the third quarter of fiscal year 2027, and the NTO-5 launches, which are projected to occur in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 and the second quarter of fiscal year 2028.

“Our mission to deliver national defense capabilities to the joint force is achieved with each task order we award,” explained USSF Col. Matt Flahive, system program director for launch acquisition at Space Systems Command. “The task orders awarded in support of our mission partners, SDA and NRO [National Reconnaissance Office], demonstrate the importance we have placed on being time efficient and cost conscious in our Phase 3 Lane 1 approach to reliably deliver space capability to the warfighter quicker and at the best value to the American taxpayer.”