# 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. Published 2026-10-22 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/22/space-force-awards-northrop-grumman-true-anomaly-reconnaissance-satellite/ 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] GHOST-R supports the command's RG-XX office, with the goal of developing lower-cost reconnaissance satellites for its constellation.[1] 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.[2] 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.[2] Northrop describes the satellite as the size of a small suitcase, according to the outlet.[2] ## Why it matters 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.[1] 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 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 2. Pentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systems, DefenseScoop, Sept. 21, 2026