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BAE Systems has been awarded a US$1.2 billion (AU$1.84 billion) contract from the United States Space Systems Command to deliver advanced missile warning and tracking satellites for the US Space Force, reinforcing its growing role in American space-based defence.
The award sees BAE Systems named prime contractor for the Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking – Medium Earth Orbit (RMWT-MEO) Epoch 2 program. Under the agreement, the company will design and manufacture 10 satellites over a four-year delivery period, followed by five years of operations and in-orbit support.
The RMWT-MEO program aims to provide a resilient satellite constellation capable of detecting and tracking ballistic missile launches and advanced threats such as hypersonic glide vehicles. These fast, manoeuvrable weapons present a significant challenge to traditional missile defence systems, prompting the United States and its allies to fast-track investment in space-based early warning capabilities.
BAE Systems will also deliver the ground control infrastructure required to support the constellation, including mission management, command and control, and operational oversight systems. These capabilities will streamline the handling and dissemination of critical data in real time, enabling quicker response times to emerging threats.
“This effort builds on our capabilities to facilitate low-cost, integrated satellite defence programs that bring together payload and bus builds while managing ground support, operations and sustainment,” said Thai Sheridan, vice president and general manager of military space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems.
“Our system enables close coordination through a ‘one-team’ approach across capabilities that are critical for missile warning and tracking success.”
Each spacecraft will be equipped with a sophisticated electro-optical/infrared sensor and a secure communications payload, enhanced by onboard data processing and satellite-to-satellite crosslinking for seamless integration with terrestrial missile defence systems.
The satellites will be based on BAE Systems’ “Trek” variant of its Elevation spacecraft platform, offering greater flexibility for payload integration, improved attitude control and robust cyber security features.
This latest contract builds on BAE’s expanding partnership with the US Department of Defense and Space Force. Earlier this year, the company was also selected to deliver a new command and control system under the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program, an initiative aimed at transforming how the Space Force manages space-based missile warning missions.
FORGE represents a significant shift from legacy satellite control systems towards more agile, scalable and cyber-resilient operations. It is designed to handle large volumes of data from multiple next-generation sensors and satellites, including those being developed under RMWT.
By adopting a flexible, open-architecture approach, FORGE ensures the Space Force can quickly respond to emerging threats and integrate new technologies across its satellite enterprise.
The dual award positions BAE Systems as a key enabler of US space deterrence and defence infrastructure – an area of growing relevance to allied nations such as Australia. With increasing concern over hypersonic threats and long-range strike capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, Australia’s Defence Strategic Review and forthcoming Integrated Investment Program suggest a future role for allied collaboration in space-based surveillance and early warning systems.
