LOUISVILLE, Colo. — Colorado-based Sierra Space has secured a contract worth up to $798 million from the U.S. Space Development Agency to build 18 missile-warning and missile-tracking satellites, marking one of the company's largest defense awards and a significant expansion of its role in the Pentagon's next-generation missile defense architecture.
The company announced the award on Monday, saying the firm-fixed-price agreement covers the design, manufacture and delivery of satellites for the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 tracking layer, part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The satellites are intended to strengthen U.S. capabilities to detect, track and support defenses against missile threats.
The Space Development Agency, which oversees the low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, is accelerating deployment of increasingly capable tracking satellites as the Defense Department expands space-based missile warning and missile defense systems. The latest award also supports the broader Golden Dome missile defense initiative promoted by the Trump administration, according to company and government statements.
Sierra Space said the contract establishes the Louisville, Colorado-headquartered company as a prime contractor for a major national security space program. Chief Executive Officer Dan Jablonsky said in a statement that the award reflects the company's ability to deliver integrated space systems for critical defense missions.
The company said it will produce 18 satellites equipped to perform missile warning, missile tracking and missile defense missions. The spacecraft will become part of a proliferated constellation designed to provide persistent global coverage and improve resilience by distributing capabilities across numerous satellites rather than relying on a smaller number of high-value assets.
The award adds to a series of major contracts issued by the Space Development Agency as it expands the nation's layered missile defense network. Earlier this week, L3Harris Technologies received a separate $955 million contract to build 18 additional satellites for the same broader missile defense effort, underscoring the government's strategy of relying on multiple industrial partners to accelerate deployment.
Colorado has become a major hub for the U.S. space and defense industry, with companies across the state supporting military satellite production, launch services and national security technologies. Industry analysts say the latest awards reinforce the state's growing role in federal space procurement, although the companies will remain subject to performance milestones and oversight under their respective government agreements.
Sierra Space said work under the contract will proceed under the Space Development Agency's acquisition schedule as the agency continues fielding additional tranches of the missile-tracking constellation.
