WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded a $25.3 million contract to defense tech startup Anduril Industries. Under the agreement announced Sept. 27, Anduril will enhance the data integration and communication systems of the Space Surveillance Network.
The SSN, first deployed in the late 1950s, is a global network of sensors including conventional radars, phased-array radars, and telescopes. These assets are used to track satellites, space debris, and to provide early warnings of ballistic missile launches.
The contract builds on Anduril’s previous work with the Space Force, expanding the deployment of its mesh networking technology across SSN sites through March 2026. This latest award follows $10.5 million in earlier Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts for similar work scheduled through December 2024.
At the heart of Anduril’s solution is its Lattice software platform, which uses 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, identifying critical patterns and data points.
The Space Force is also using Anduril’s SDANet, a modern mesh network designed to augment the SSN’s Space Defense Interface Network — a 40-year-old system that relies on point-to-point connections. The SDANet leverages commercial space internet services like SpaceX’s Starlink to create high-speed connections between multiple space domain awareness sensors and platforms.
