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Anticipating significant demand in the coming years for reconnaissance and surveillance satellites, the Space Force is increasing the ceiling value of its recently awarded Andromeda contract from $1.8 billion to more than $6.2 billion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The service announced the initial Andromeda awards in early April, choosing 14 companies<\/a> to compete to build reconnaissance satellites under a program called RG-XX. In a May 4 notice, it indicated that an urgent need for more visibility in orbit drove more funding toward space-based domain awareness programs in the fiscal 2027 budget request. As a result, the Space Force increased Andromeda\u2019s ceiling by more than $4 billion<\/a>. It also indicated it will eventually use the larger Andromeda indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract vehicle to buy both reconnaissance satellites for RG-XX as well as surveillance spacecraft for a separate effort called SG-XX. \t\t<\/p>\n \u201cShortly before the award decision, the space reconnaissance and surveillance budget for Fiscal Year 2027 was significantly increased to address the escalating threat environment projected for [calendar year] 2030+,\u201d the Space Force said in the notice. \u201cThe revised budget results in increased demand for the same requirements already encompassed within the Andromeda [Multi-Award Contract] IDIQ.\u201d<\/p>\n The increase also provides some margin for the service to accommodate \u201cunknown future U.S. and Foreign Military Sales requirements,\u201d the notice states.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Space Force\u2019s plan for both RG-XX and SG-XX is to field constellations of small, low-cost, commercial-based satellites to augment and eventually replace existing capabilities. For RG-XX, the focus is on maneuverable satellites that can observe and track activity in geosynchronous orbit. Today, that mission is performed by Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program<\/a>, or GSSAP, spacecraft.<\/p>\n The service has yet to solicit bids or award contracts for SG-XX, but officials told reporters last December they envision a fleet of wide-field-of-view satellites to surveil GEO. Those satellites will form the follow-on to a joint Space Force-National Reconnaissance Office program called Silent Barker<\/a>, which complement GSSAP. The satellites coordinate target tracking and data sharing amongst themselves using complementary sensors. Both programs have, thus far, been developed and fielded largely in secret.<\/p>\n Space domain awareness is a top priority for the Space Force and U.S. Space Command. Officials want the ability to better track threats and gain more insight into potential adversaries\u2019 on-orbit operations. Along with space-based sensors, the service has a network of ground radars that track activity in orbit as well as launches.\t\t<\/p>\n Surveillance is focused on more general, prolonged monitoring\u2014which wide-field-of-view sensors can provide\u2014while reconnaissance is focused on specific objects and targets on tighter timelines. Maneuverable satellites would be particularly useful for reconnaissance; proliferation, however, could benefit both missions.\u00a0<\/p>\n