BAE Systems' Missile Detection Satellite Passes Preliminary Design Review

The U.S. Space Force has announced that a missile-tracking satellite constellation being developed by BAE Systems has successfully passed its preliminary design review. This assessment, conducted by the Space Systems Command, evaluates the maturity of the system architecture and technical approach, allowing the program to advance toward final design.

Under a $1.2 billion contract awarded in May 2025, BAE Systems is tasked with building ten satellites that will operate in medium Earth orbit (MEO). These satellites are designed to detect and track missile launches, including emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons. Chief systems engineer 1st Lt. Sabrina Taylor emphasized that advanced digital tools were utilized to ensure the design's readiness for the next phase, the Critical Design Review, scheduled for this summer.

The new satellite constellation is part of the Space Force’s proliferated resilient missile warning and tracking program. This initiative aims to enhance the military's capability to monitor maneuvering threats throughout their flight paths, complementing existing missile-warning satellites. The program is structured in incremental batches, referred to as 'epochs,' with 22 satellites already acquired.

The first batch, known as Epoch 1, consists of 12 satellites ordered in 2024 from Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems, totaling approximately $900 million. The ten satellites being developed by BAE Systems constitute Epoch 2, marking the next phase of this vital constellation.