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Contracts · Space

Space Force awards Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly reconnaissance satellite prototype contracts

The GHOST-R effort aims to use commercial spacecraft technology for reconnaissance, with prototypes planned to launch directly to geostationary orbit by 2028.

Space Systems Command and DIU announced prototype contracts for Northrop Grumman and True Anomaly on Sept. 18, 2026, to develop reconnaissance satellites under GHOST-R.1

Prototype contracts were awarded to True Anomaly and Northrop Grumman

GHOST-R is part of RG-XX

True AnomalyJackalplanned

Mosaic command-and-control system and a rendezvous and proximity operations sensor suite

Northrop GrummanESPASat-Lplanned

optical payloads from TRL11

Space Systems Command, Sept. 18, 2026; Reported by DefenseScoop, Sept. 21, 2026. As of Sept. 21, 2026.

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

GHOST-R supports the command's RG-XX office, with the goal of developing lower-cost reconnaissance satellites for its constellation. The agencies aim to use commercially developed space vehicles, buses and electro-optical payloads to produce high-resolution space-to-space imagery for characterizing objects in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO).1

The department and vendor announcements did not disclose the awards' value, and Northrop declined to disclose its contract value, deferring to DIU, DefenseScoop reported.2

DefenseScoop reported that True Anomaly will provide its Jackal vehicle, Mosaic command-and-control system and a rendezvous and proximity operations sensor suite. The outlet cited a company release describing a single Jackal as designed to surveil dozens of satellites.2

Northrop plans to deliver its ESPASat-L satellite with optical payloads from TRL11, DefenseScoop reported. Northrop describes the satellite as the size of a small suitcase, according to the outlet.2

Successful prototypes will have a direct path into the program of record, Col. Bryon McClain, acting portfolio acquisition executive for Space Combat Power, said in the announcement. The agencies plan for the prototypes to launch directly to GEO by 2028 and perform fully government-owned and operated Space Force missions by 2029.1

Sources (2)
  1. DIU and Space Systems Command award GHOST-R prototype contracts to support GEO recon capabilities for Department of War, Space Systems Command, Sept. 18, 2026 www.ssc.spaceforce.mil
  2. Pentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systems, DefenseScoop, Sept. 21, 2026 defensescoop.com
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Contracts · Space

Viasat wins contract for Space Data Network’s mission operations hub

The award includes a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center, under a contract with a $450 million ceiling.

Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded Viasat a competitive indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Space Data Network Backbone’s Mission Operations Center, the command announced Nov. 5, 2026. The contract carries a $450 million maximum ceiling and a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center.1

Viasat, Inc. will serve as the network and mission system integration partner

Mission Operations Center (MOC) for the Space Data Network Backbone

maximum ceiling$450 millionactual

contract to Viasat, Inc., with a maximum ceiling of $450 million

initial task order$115 millionactual

to design, field, and scale the MOC

Source: Space Systems Command, Nov. 5, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Viasat will serve as the network and mission system integration partner as SSC expands its open-architecture ecosystem across multiple space-segment providers. SSC plans to bring mission integration, network operations and data transport management together through the center.1

The effort builds on the multi-vendor acquisition strategy demonstrated in the Space-Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio’s earlier Delivery Order 2 and Delivery Order 3 work. That work involved Amazon LEO for Government, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab and York Space Systems.1

Breaking Defense reported that the center will serve as the network orchestration hub for the backbone, a low Earth orbit constellation being built by SpaceX. The network’s near-term focus will be supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, the outlet reported.2

DefenseScoop reported that earlier this year the Department of War awarded SpaceX a $2.3 billion contract to deliver a fully operational backbone prototype by the end of 2027.3

The center is intended to integrate mission systems across multiple constellations and providers.1 Breaking Defense described network orchestration as autonomously shifting data among satellite constellations and ground stations when congestion or jamming slows transmission.2

Sources (3)
  1. SSC release, Nov. 5, 2026 www.ssc.spaceforce.mil
  2. Breaking Defense breakingdefense.com
  3. DefenseScoop defensescoop.com
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Contracts · Munitions industrial base

Navy plans sole-source Northrop contract for MK 45 projectile bodies

The planned production contract follows Northrop’s completion of competitively awarded prototype work. Other suppliers can submit capability statements by Nov. 18.

The Navy plans a sole-source contract with Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation to develop and produce new 5-inch projectile bodies compatible with the MK 45 Gun Weapon System. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division intends a firm-fixed-price contract for the austempered ductile iron bodies.1

A follow-on contract for production can proceed without further competition

Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) 5 Inch Projectile Bodies compatible with the MK 45 Gun Weapon System

development and qualificationcompetitively awardedactual

projectile body development and qualification was competitively awarded

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporationsuccessfully completedactual

successfully completed the prototype projects

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporationsole sourceplanned

Contracts Department intends to issue a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract on a sole source basis to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation.

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose.

Source: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, SAM.gov. As of Nov. 3, 2026.

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

The competition took place at the prototype stage: the other transaction agreement for projectile body development and qualification was competitively awarded, and Northrop completed the prototype projects. The underlying Naval Energetic Systems and Technologies request for prototype projects included provisions for a follow-on production contract.1

The Navy says those conditions allow production to proceed without further competition under the prototype follow-on authority in 10 USC 4022(f)(1). The notice’s description gives no quantity, dollar value or delivery schedule for the planned contract.1

The Navy published the notice Nov. 3 and updated it the same day, changing the response date from Nov. 13 to Nov. 18.1–2

Other suppliers still have an opportunity to submit capability summaries, with responses due by 4 p.m. EST Nov. 18, 2026. The Navy will consider all responses, but the notice is not a request for proposals. The decision whether to compete the requirement remains with the Navy, and the notice makes no government commitment.1

Sources (2)
  1. sam.gov sam.gov
  2. sam.gov sam.gov
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