WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Space Force has awarded a $25.3 million contract to defense tech startup Anduril Industries to enhance the data integration and communication systems of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). This agreement, announced on September 27, aims to improve the SSN, a global network of sensors that track satellites and space debris while providing early warnings of ballistic missile launches.
The SSN, operational since the late 1950s, utilizes a combination of conventional radars, phased-array radars, and telescopes. The new contract builds on Anduril's previous efforts with the Space Force, expanding the deployment of its mesh networking technology across SSN sites through March 2026. This follows earlier Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts worth $10.5 million for similar enhancements scheduled through December 2024.
Central to Anduril's solution is its Lattice software platform, which employs artificial intelligence to analyze and integrate data from various sensors, providing a comprehensive view of the space environment. The system autonomously processes information from radars, telescopes, and other sensors to identify critical patterns and data points.
Moreover, the Space Force is utilizing Anduril's SDANet, a modern mesh network designed to enhance the SSN's Space Defense Interface Network, a 40-year-old system dependent on point-to-point connections. SDANet leverages commercial space internet services, such as SpaceX's Starlink, to establish high-speed connections between multiple space domain awareness sensors and platforms.