The US Space Force has awarded L3Harris a $150-million contract to sustain and modernize ground systems that track objects in space and provide earlier warning of potential threats.
Under the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) program, L3Harris will support systems that collect, process, and deliver space surveillance data to military, civil, and commercial users.
The work includes upgrades to sensors and command‑and‑control systems that feed space domain awareness networks, enabling faster decision‑making and earlier threat detection.
MOSSAIC is a cornerstone of the US military’s space surveillance architecture. Originally awarded to L3Harris in 2020, the program has since received multiple follow‑on options, including major contract years in 2023 and 2024.
These expansions have focused on sustaining and modernizing radar, optical sensors, and data systems used for space tracking and identification.
Boosting Space Domain Awareness and Defense
Efforts under MOSSAIC align with broader US investments aimed at improving how the military detects, tracks, and understands activity in orbit.
In February, L3Harris completed a major upgrade to the Space Surveillance Telescope primary mirror, enhancing its ability to observe objects in high orbits, including geosynchronous satellites. The telescope is a key sensor within the space domain awareness architecture supporting MOSSAIC.
Alongside ground sensor modernization, the US Space Force has pushed forward systems that can disrupt adversary space capabilities.
In December 2025, the service deployed mobile Meadowlands counter‑communications units, providing commanders with an electronic warfare tool to interfere with hostile satellite communications.
Other major US space efforts complement MOSSAIC’s mission.
For instance, the Space Force’s Next‑Gen Overhead Persistent Infrared ground station network, contracted to Northrop Grumman in May 2025, supports missile launch detection and warning, feeding into broader feed space awareness and defense operations.
