Space Force Awards $981M NITE-STAR Range and Test Engineering Contract

The awardee list showcases a deliberate blend of legacy defense prime contractors and agile commercial space startups. Winning vendors include Amentum, BAE Systems, Boeing, CACI International, L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Parsons, alongside commercial space specialists Firefly Aerospace, Redwire, Rocket Lab, Sierra Space, Viasat, York Space Systems, and Pacific Crest Alliance (a joint venture between La Jolla Logic and Sierra Nevada Corp.). Solicitations for task orders will span four core technical pillars: software development, hardware engineering, modeling and simulation, and physical range infrastructure enhancement.

This procurement highlights the military's urgent requirement to transition from legacy orbital monitoring to a fully integrated Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) test and training environment. As orbital environments become increasingly congested and contested by adversary counter-space capabilities, the Space Force requires high-fidelity synthetic environments to test dynamic space maneuvers, battle management tactics, and threat response without exposing operational tactics to foreign intelligence. The NSTTC network provides the foundational architecture needed to stress-test satellite constellations, ground stations, and cyber resiliency against near-peer threats in real time.

For government and industry leaders, the award underscores the Space Force's strategy of marrying commercial agility with heavy defense systems engineering. NITE-STAR creates a streamlined vehicle for inserting modern digital engineering, digital twin capabilities, and cloud-native simulation tools directly into space range architecture. Suppliers on this vehicle are positioned to shape the standard for next-generation space power projection, operational testing, and warfighter training as orbital conflict readiness becomes a central pillar of national defense strategy. (Source: Washington Technology)