The US Space Force has contracted SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) for the first set of high-priority national security missions scheduled beyond fiscal year 2027.
The deal assigns seven launches worth $714 million to SpaceX and two launches worth $428 million to ULA. Both are part of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 program.
These missions include satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the Wideband Global SATCOM system supporting the US military’s global communications network.
Launches are set to begin in 2027 under firm-fixed-price contracts, once spacecraft are ready.
The NSSL program, run by the Space Force’s Space Systems Command, is the US military’s main framework for launching defense and intelligence satellites. It ensures continuous, secure, and reliable access to space for strategic communications, missile warning, and surveillance missions.
The Future of US National Security Launches
This marks the first round of task orders under the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 program.
Three companies are currently cleared to compete for these missions: SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin. SpaceX, founded and led by Elon Musk, continues to dominate the national security launch market as it leverages its reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, received no missions in this initial batch because its New Glenn rocket has yet to complete certification for national security launches.
The Space Force expects 54 launches under Phase 3 Lane 2 in the coming years.
