SpaceX won a $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Space Force. The agreement funds 18 Falcon 9 launches. Operations will conclude by the end of 2027. Missions will depart from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This award falls under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 program.
The Falcon 9 rockets will deploy satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Based Sensing and Targeting (SBST) portfolio. This constellation will track airborne threats and provide near-real-time military communications. SpaceX also holds contracts to build the satellites it will launch, solidifying its role as a primary provider.