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Contract announced on May 29 plans the first phase of the AMTI network, formed by low orbit satellites to track aircraft, cruise missiles, and other aerial threats on a global scale
The United States Space Force has signed a $4.16 billion contract with SpaceX to develop the first phase of the AMTI satellites, a low orbit network aimed at tracking aircraft, cruise missiles, and other aerial threats. The agreement, announced on May 29, reinforces the Pentagon’s shift to space-based surveillance previously conducted by military aircraft.
AMTI satellites will track moving aerial targets
The Air Moving Target Indicator network, known by the acronym AMTI, was designed to detect, monitor, and keep track of targets moving in the air. These include fighters, bombers, cruise missiles, and potentially hypersonic weapons.
The contract was signed through the Space Systems Command, which indicated the goal of accelerating the deployment of a layer of space sensors capable of tracking aerial threats on a global scale.
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Pentagon expands surveillance from space
The initiative is part of a broader Pentagon movement to transfer military sensing missions, traditionally carried out by aircraft, to satellite constellations. The aim is to expand coverage and increase the resilience of surveillance systems.
Military officials argue that satellites offer an advantage against the advancement of adversarial access and area denial capabilities, a scenario in which surveillance aircraft may face more operational limitations.
First deployment is scheduled for 2028
The number of satellites to be built by SpaceX has not been disclosed. The expectation, however, is that the constellation will operate in low Earth orbit, a region used for systems with a shorter distance from the planet.
According to the Space Systems Command, the initial deployment of the network is expected to occur by 2028. This phase should deliver a preliminary operational capability to the United States armed forces.
SpaceX gains space in American military architecture
The new contract was announced a few days after the Space Force awarded SpaceX another agreement, worth $2.29 billion, to build the backbone of the Space Data Network, a mesh communication constellation for data transfer between military satellites.
Combined, the two contracts place the company at two central points of the Pentagon’s emerging space architecture: sensing and communications.
The Air Force still maintains aircraft like the E-3 AWACS and E-7 Wedgetail, but space systems are now treated as a vital complement to aerial surveillance.
This article was prepared based on information from the Space Systems Command and the United States Space Force, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.
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