Success Story: Space Force Utilizes Space Enterprise Consortium to Advance Missile Defense Systems

June 09, 2023 – L3Harris, a global leader in technology solutions, has been awarded the scope to develop a mission payload design to support the Missile Track Custody (MTC) program, through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle. The U.S. government recently selected L3Harris to join Millennium Space Systems and Raytheon Intelligence and Space in the MTC effort, strengthening national defense capabilities. This award, valued at nearly $29 million, reaffirms L3Harris’s commitment to innovation and excellence in providing cutting-edge solutions for complex defense challenges.

The history of missile tracking within the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) spans several decades, reflecting the continuous evolution of defense technology. Beginning in the mid-20th century, the DoD established a variety of programs and initiatives to develop and enhance missile tracking capabilities. From the early radar-based systems employed during the Cold War era to the advent of satellite-based tracking and advanced sensor technologies, the DoD has remained at the forefront of missile tracking advancements. Over the years, numerous agencies, defense contractors, and research institutions have collaborated with the DoD to improve tracking accuracy, range, and real-time data fusion.

Today, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) is collaborating with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Space Development Agency (SDA), under the leadership of the Chief of Space Operations (CSO), to develop a collaborative, unified Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Enterprise solution, in support of missile warning (MW), missile tracking (MT), and missile defense (MD).  The goal is to produce a capability that precedes projected threats in a congested and contested space domain, while meeting warfighter requirements.  These efforts all lead to significant advancements in missile surveillance, enabling the U.S. to bolster its national defense and maintain a vigilant watch over potential threats to security at home and abroad.

The Missile Track Custody program, an ongoing initiative aimed at enhancing the nation’s missile defense capabilities from medium earth orbit (MEO), was initially awarded to Millennium Space Systems and Raytheon in May 2021. Leveraging their expertise, both companies played a pivotal role in advancing the MTC program to its current stage. Building upon this foundation, L3Harris’s inclusion will further accelerate progress and drive technological advancements vital to the nation’s security.

Through the MTC program, L3Harris will collaborate closely with government agencies, defense contractors, and industry partners to design cutting-edge capabilities in missile track custody. By leveraging advanced sensor technologies, data fusion, and sophisticated analytics, the MTC program aims to enhance the ability to track and monitor potentially threatening missiles, providing a critical layer of defense for the nation and its allies.

About SpEC 

The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) was created in 2017 through the Air Force Space Systems Command to bridge the gap between military buyers and commercial space startups and small businesses through OTAs. Companies interested in joining the Space Enterprise Consortium can find more information about the organization, including how to join at https://www.space-enterprise.org/.