Summary: Space Systems Command has completed the critical design review for the first two Epoch 2 orbital planes of its Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking Medium Earth Orbit program, advancing a capability designed to improve global missile tracking and expand battlespace awareness for the joint force and allies.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) completed the critical design review for the first two Epoch 2 orbital planes for its Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) middle tier acquisition program. Epoch 2 builds on the resilient capabilities of Epoch 1 by enhancing missile threat tracking, adding a supplemental source of battlespace awareness and technical intelligence and advancing global MWT coverage for the Nation, warfighters, and allies.
These satellites will be fielded across the first two MEO orbital planes and build upon the initial two Epoch 1 MEO planes, which include 12 satellites, creating a more robust architecture for global missile threat tracking.
"To outpace today’s advanced threats, we are balancing speed with technical rigor to deliver global missile tracking capability to the warfighter," said USSF Lt. Col. Brandon Castillo, Epoch 2 system program manager.
The program completed the critical design review five months after the completion of the preliminary design review (PDR) and 14 months after the initial contract award in 2025. This rapid progress is the result of a modern, innovative acquisition approach using cutting-edge digital engineering and proven technologies.
"The combined government and industry team has been in lockstep since PDR to mature this system design,” said Heather Tackett, Epoch 2 deputy system program manager. “The use of advanced digital engineering tools enabled our team to communicate dynamically, identify and resolve misalignments early, and track enterprise-level mission capability.”
With the successful completion of the critical design review, in partnership with BAE Space & Mission Systems - the first of two Epoch 2 vendors, this marks the next phase of system design maturity, for a total of 10 new satellites for the program. The source selection for the second Epoch 2 vendor is ongoing, with the contract award planned for early FY27.
The program continues to demonstrate progress toward rapid fielding of the MEO constellation and the team plans to deliver this vital capability to warfighters faster than traditional legacy methods, with space vehicle assembly, integration, and testing scheduled to commence next year.
"As our adversaries rapidly develop highly maneuverable hypersonic missiles, a resilient MEO architecture is essential,” said Castillo. “We are building a new missile tracking capability with global access to help ensure joint warfighters have actionable, real-time data needed to detect, track, and counter advanced threats."
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of War, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
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