Satellite group for tracking missiles, which is being developed by BAE Systems for the US Space Force, passed the early design stage. 9 March 2026 year, the Space Systems Command reported, that the program has successfully passed the preliminary review of the project - evaluation, which determines whether the system architecture and technical approach are sufficiently mature, to proceed to the final design.
For reference: BAE Systems is the largest British defense and aerospace company, one of the world leaders in the production of weapons. It designs and manufactures fighter jets (F-35), armored vehicles (Bradley, CV90, Challenger 2), artillery (M777, Archer) and ships. The company actively cooperates with Ukraine, in particular, regarding the localization of repair and production of weapons.
BAE Systems builds 10 satellites according to the contract cost 1,2 A billion dollars, concluded in May 2025 year. The spacecraft will operate in medium Earth orbit and are designed to detect and track missile launches, including advanced threats, such as hypersonic weapons. The satellites are part of the US Space Force's Advanced Persistent Missile Warning and Tracking Program, a new grouping, designed to complement existing missile launch warning satellites and improve the military's ability to track maneuvering threats throughout flight.
The service builds groups in stages, in the so-called "epochs". Currently purchased 22 satellites.
The first 12, known as Epoch 1, were ordered from 2024 year at the subsidiary Boeing Millennium Space Systems under two contracts with a total value of approx 900 millions of dollars. 10 satellites, which are currently being developed by BAE Systems, Epoch 2 — is the next stage of grouping. The devices are equipped with infrared sensors, which detect thermal signatures, formed during rocket launches. Satellites transmit tracking data to missile defense systems and military command networks.
The decision to place sensors in medium Earth orbit reflects the Pentagon's efforts to create a multi-layered missile warning architecture in multiple orbital regimes. For decades, the United States has relied primarily on satellites in geostationary orbit. From such a height, satellites can observe vast regions of the planet and are suitable for detecting the bright plume of ballistic missiles. But missile tracking after the acceleration phase (especially hypersonic gliders, flying at lower altitudes) can be complex from geostationary orbit, since the targets in the field of view of the equipment will be closer to the Earth's horizon.
To solve this problem, The Pentagon is 2020 began to develop a layer of tracking missiles in low Earth orbit (LEO). LEO satellites provide better viewing angles of objects in the upper atmosphere and can track fainter, maneuvering targets. Because of the limited field of view, large arrays are required for global coverage. Between these two approaches is the average Earth orbit. From such a height, satellites can observe much larger areas, than LEO vehicles, while maintaining a better viewing geometry, than GEO systems, for objects, flying in the atmosphere or near space.
The US Space Force's long-term plan is a multi-layered network of sensors, covering the geostationary, medium and low Earth orbits, where each layer provides complementary coverage to detect and track missile threats worldwide.
Source: https://spacenews.com