Space-based AMTI sensors are being designed to replace the US Air Force's planned E7 Wedgetail aircraft, a version of which is already being flown by the Royal Australian Air Force. (Michael Marrow/Breaking Defense)
WASHINGTON ― The Space Force announced today that it has awarded SpaceX a contract worth $4.16 billion to “accelerate” the service’s “Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI)” program.
“We are beginning development and integration efforts immediately to meet the program’s rapid deployment milestones and address emerging national security requirements,” Col. Ryan Frazier, acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive for Space Based Sensing & Targeting, said in a statement.
Space-based AMTI sensors are being designed to replace the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail, which is turn was developed to replace the aging E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The move to space is seen by the Department of the Air Force as necessary due to ever-more sophisticated anti-access/area-denial systems available to potential adversaries.
SpaceX was one of nine companies chosen by the Space Force in April to compete for the SB-AMTI program under an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracting vehicle, the announcement noted.
