8 octobre 2020 | International, C4ISR

SpaceX awarded contract to build US military tracking satellites

JORDAN WILLIAMS

Elon Musk's SpaceX is one of two companies to be awarded a $149 million contract from the Space Development Agency to develop missile-tracking satellites for the U.S.

SpaceX and defense contractor L3 Harris were chosen to build the satellites as part of the National Defense Space Architecture's Trache 0, which will include 20 transport layer satellites and 8 tracking satellites. L3 Harris received $193 million from the agency to build its satellites.

The companies will build four overhead persistent infrared imaging (OPIR) satellites of their own design that must be able to track missiles and communicate directly with transport layer satellites. Those satellites are currently being developed by Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems under separate contracts.

SpaceX will be developing its satellites around an infrared sensor with a wide field of view, Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear told SpaceNews. The company plans to build the satellite based on its Starlink satellite, but will have the OIPR sensor come from another supplier.

The satellites should be ready by the end of fiscal 2022.

SpaceX on Tuesday launched 60 new Starlink satellites at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/519964-spacex-awarded-contract-to-build-us-military-tracking-satellites

Sur le même sujet

  • India advances light attack helicopter program with large tender

    23 juin 2024 | International, Aérospatial

    India advances light attack helicopter program with large tender

    Armaments on the LCH include Mistral air-to-air missiles, up to four FZ231 2.75-inch (70mm) rocket pods and a nose-mounted M621 20mm cannon.

  • France begins backfilling its Rafale fleet after selling some to Greece

    1 février 2021 | International, Aérospatial

    France begins backfilling its Rafale fleet after selling some to Greece

    By: Christina Mackenzie PARIS – The French Air and Space Force will be getting 12 new Rafales to replace those being removed from its inventory to sell to Greece, Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Friday. The announcement comes a few weeks later than originally planned. Florence Parly had told the National Assembly's Defense Commission last fall that the order would be placed with Dassault Aviation, the Rafale's manufacturer, before the end of 2020. But that was on the provision that the $3 billion contract with Greece for 18 Rafales had been signed by then. That Greek contract was signed four days ago so Parly took the opportunity of a visit to Dassault Aviation's flight controls factory in Argonay, in the French Alps on Jan. 29 to announce the new order. Eric Trappier, Dassault's CEO, had earlier underlined the fact that “Dassault is the only aircraft manufacturer in the world to design and produce its own flight controls.” Contracts to Dassault Aviation, Safran (the engine manufacturer) and Thales (the electronics) will be sent out by the DGA procurement agency in the next few days. While no price tag was given during Parly's announcement, Trappier has previously said one fully equipped fighter costs around 100 million euros, or $121 million, which would put the total package at just under $1.5 billion. Parly said the 12 new aircraft would be built to the latest F3R standard. She added, “We sold 18 Rafales to Greece so it is indeed 18 Rafales that Dassault will have to produce.” Speaking at the factory, the defense minister said one Rafale would come off the production line per month, “which represents 7,000 jobs, jobs within Dassault of course, but also within the 500 or so small and medium enterprises that work with you.” She added that in the current economic context “this is good and reassuring news”. The French Air and Space Force will have its 12 new aircraft by the end of 2025. Together with the 28 Rafales that Dassault is to deliver between 2022 and 2024, this will bring the total to 129, as projected in the 2019-2025 military program law. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/01/29/france-begins-backfilling-its-rafale-fleet-after-selling-some-to-greece

  • Senate moves forward on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid bill

    8 février 2024 | International, Aérospatial

    Senate moves forward on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid bill

    The Senate cleared its first procedural vote on a giant foreign aid bill, but its fate in the House remains unclear.

Toutes les nouvelles