Summary: The Space Force has awarded a second task order of three initial Firm-Fixed-Price Other Transaction Authority (OTAs) agreements totaling $615 million under the Space-Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio. This effort targets rapid maturity of emerging technologies through growth of the vendor base, and diversification and development of multiple Space-Base Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI) capabilities that can deliver distinct operational advantages to the Joint Force.
El Segundo, Calif. – The Space Force has awarded three initial Space-Based Sensing and Targeting (SBST) Firm-Fixed-Price Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements totaling $615 million aimed at rapidly maturing emerging technologies, leverage commercial investments, and demonstrate innovative Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI) capabilities.
Following the initial rapid-acquisition task order, this second task order (TO 2) zeroes in on two critical goals for the future of the SB-AMTI program: vendor base diversification, and the development and integration of multiple sensing technologies and disciplines.
"Our mandate is clear: we must move fast and aggressively harness the innovation of the commercial sector," said Space Force Col. Ryan Frazier, acting Space Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for SBST. "The core focus of this second task order is diversifying our capabilities and ensuring we don't rely on a single technical solution. With these new partnerships, we are exploring unique innovations and technologies and fundamentally different ways to accomplish the airborne moving target indication mission. Maturing these varied technical solutions now gives us distinct performance advantages for the future and guarantees we are fielding the absolute best technology available."
The awardees for these OTAs are Rocket Lab, STR, LLC, and one other industry company who cannot be named at this time due to operational security.
By actively seeking a wider array of commercial partners, the government is deliberately lowering barriers to entry and maturing a deeper pool of capable vendors. This approach fosters continuous, long-term competition, reduces supply chain constraints, and mitigates industrial risk. Ultimately, a broader vendor base translates to more rapid technological iteration cycles, ensuring the Space Force can pivot, scale, and replenish systems as mission requirements inevitably evolve.
The development and integration of multiple sensing technologies and disciplines is vital for building a highly survivable and adaptable space-based sensing architecture. By exploring a wide spectrum of technical approaches, the Space Force can deliver architecture resiliency fortified by multiple methods of delivering this capability. Different sensing phenomenologies can also leverage distinct operational advantages across varied environmental conditions, geography, and threat environments.
Investing in these diverse commercial solutions allows the joint force to rigorously evaluate unique performance benefits, complicate adversary planning, and guarantee persistent space domain awareness.
"While our initial awards allowed us to rapidly establish a baseline, these new agreements demonstrate our commitment to expanding our partnerships,” Frazier said. “A resilient space architecture demands a robust, competitive industrial base, and tapping into the broader commercial market is how we get there."
These agreements were competitively awarded from the previously-established indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) pool of SB-AMTI industry partners. The overall acquisition strategy fields critical capabilities, matures manufacturing solutions, and promotes the long-term competition essential for the future expansion of a resilient SB-AMTI architecture.
About Space Systems Command
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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