National Space Test and Training Complex – Electromagnetic Spectrum (NSTTC-E)

The focus of this solicitation was to develop testing infrastructure for the National Space Test and Training Complex – Electromagnetic Spectrum (NSTTC-E) so that space warfighters could leverage said infrastructure to validate and verify their System Under Test (SUT). The vision for the NSTTC had four focus areas: Service Capability, Joint Applicability, Integrated Test, and Threat Replication. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) and Space Systems Command (SSC) have awarded NSTTC-E, now Advanced Space Technology for Range Operations – Electromagnetic Range (ASTRO-E) study contracts to six companies: Nou Systems, ExoAnalytic Solutions, TMC Design, HII Mission Technologies Corp, Parsons Government Services Inc, and Lockheed Martin on 29 February 2024. All awardees are incorporating significant participation from nontraditional defense companies.

The STARCOM-SSC Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) Integrated Program Office, in partnership with the SSC Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Authority office, made the study contract awards to initiate planning for ASTRO-E enhancements to STARCOM’s National Space Test and Training Complex. These enhancements will provide ground infrastructure and on-orbit subjects for Electronic Warfare (EW) test and training. By providing space warfighters with interconnected, scalable, and distributed physical and digital ranges for full-spectrum testing and training, this project will enable joint warfighting solutions to prevail in conflict. ASTRO-E provides risk reduction for the OTTI vision of establishing a realistic, integrated system-of-systems architecture focused on providing threat-informed test and training environments. Learn more in the ASTRO-E press release.