BAE Systems Completes Key Design Milestone for U.S. Space Force Missile Warning Satellite Program

BAE Systems Completes Key Design Milestone for U.S. Space Force Missile Warning Satellite Program

(IN BRIEF) BAE Systems has completed the Preliminary Design Review for the $1.2 billion U.S. Space Force Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking – Medium Earth Orbit Epoch 2 program, marking an important milestone in the development of a new satellite constellation for missile detection and tracking. As prime contractor, BAE Systems will build ten satellites and the associated ground command and control systems to support the mission. The system will provide resilient space-based monitoring of ballistic missiles and emerging threats such as hypersonic glide vehicles. Developed using digital model-based systems engineering and BAE Systems’ TREK satellite bus platform, the program is designed to strengthen U.S. defense capabilities by improving early warning and tracking of advanced missile threats.

(PRESS RELEASE) FARNBOROUGH, 12-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — BAE Systems has reached a major development milestone in the U.S. Space Force’s Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking – Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Epoch 2 program by successfully completing the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the project. The program, valued at $1.2 billion, is being delivered for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) and is intended to strengthen the United States’ ability to detect and track advanced missile threats from space.

The completion of the Preliminary Design Review establishes the technical framework for the satellite constellation as well as the associated ground command and control infrastructure. The review confirms that the system design meets mission requirements and enables the program to progress to the next phase of development.

BAE Systems achieved the milestone less than nine months after receiving the contract award, demonstrating the accelerated development approach used for the program. The project relies heavily on digital engineering techniques, including model-based systems engineering, to improve design accuracy and speed up system validation.

As the prime contractor, BAE Systems will design and manufacture a constellation of 10 satellites for deployment in medium Earth orbit. The company will also develop the supporting ground systems responsible for mission management, command and control, and operational coordination of the satellite network.

The satellite constellation will provide continuous missile warning and tracking capabilities, enabling the detection of ballistic missile launches as well as emerging threats such as hypersonic glide vehicles. By operating in medium Earth orbit, the system is designed to provide resilient coverage and improved tracking performance compared with earlier space-based detection architectures.

According to Thai Sheridan, Vice President and General Manager of Military Space at BAE Systems, the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review reflects the effectiveness of the company’s digital modelling and simulation processes. These tools helped validate the technical implementation of the system while supporting rapid development of the satellite constellation.

The program incorporates BAE Systems’ TREK satellite bus platform, which is designed for high performance and reliability. The system also builds on the company’s extensive experience in developing infrared optical payloads, which are essential for detecting missile launches and tracking high-speed threats from space.

In addition to delivering the spacecraft, BAE Systems will provide end-to-end mission support for the program. This includes mission planning, satellite payload and platform integration, launch preparation, and ongoing operations support through the ground control infrastructure.

The MEO Epoch 2 mission forms part of a broader effort by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Space Force to develop next-generation satellite constellations capable of strengthening national security. These systems aim to improve early warning capabilities and enhance the ability to track complex missile threats in real time.

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SOURCE: BAE Systems