The U.S. Space Force awarded BAE Space and Mission Systems a $1.2 billion contract last week to deliver 10 missile tracking satellites for a medium Earth orbit constellation. 

The contract will have BAE, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, develop satellites for the second phase of the Space Force’s Resilient Missile Warning Tracking program, or Epoch 2. The company will be developing new satellites that will assist the U.S. military in tracking emerging missile threats, including next-generation hypersonics. 

The contract was announced on Monday but awarded last week through a firm fixed-price agreement. 

While the Resilient Missile Warning Tracking satellites are focused on detecting new threats like hypersonic missiles, they will be programmed to track a wide array of threats, including ballistic missiles. This will allow the medium Earth orbit satellites to be integrated into the U.S.’ broader missile defense infrastructure.

By 2029, BAE is scheduled to complete delivery of its 10 contracted satellites. This will follow Millennium Space Systems’ delivery of 12 medium Earth orbit satellites in 2026. Millennium Space Systems was previously contracted by the Space Force to provide the initial Resilient Missile Warning Tracking satellites for Epoch 1.

The medium Earth orbit satellites that BAE and Millennium are developing will likely become an integral part of the U.S.’ Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The satellites, which will orbit the Earth above 2,000 kilometers, will work with low Earth orbit satellites and ground-based defenses to disable missile threats before they reach their target. 

During an Oval Office speech last month, President Trump declared that the U.S. is going all in on Golden Dome, insisting that the system would be finished in three years and cost $175 billion.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.