Space Force Names 15 Vendors for $981M Space Test and Training Architecture
Space Systems Command established a 10-year, $981 million contract ceiling across 15 defense and commercial vendors under the NITE-STAR program. The vehicle will fund advanced live and simulated space training infrastructure to resolve severe readiness gaps.
Space Systems Command (SSC) has established a 10-year, $981 million contract ceiling under the National Space Test and Training Complex Innovative Technology and Engineering—Space Test and Range (NITE-STAR) program. By selecting 15 premier defense prime contractors and commercial space innovators, SSC aims to systematically build out high-fidelity ground, virtual, and live on-orbit training architecture. The vendor pool includes traditional defense primes such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Boeing, CACI, Amentum, Viasat, Parsons, and L3Harris, alongside emerging space specialists including Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace, Sierra Space, Redwire, Pacific Crest Alliance, and York Space Systems.
This contract structure addresses a critical operational deficit within the U.S. Space Force: an acute shortage of dedicated simulation and training assets. Service leaders estimate that approximately 40 percent of operational units currently lack realistic trainers. Consequently, Guardians have been forced to conduct procedure-heavy training directly on active operational satellites or rely on residual energy from end-of-life space platforms. In an increasingly contested orbital domain, utilizing frontline mission hardware for routine readiness caps training throughput and prevents high-stakes scenario rehearsal across essential functional areas like orbital warfare, space domain awareness, intelligence, and electronic warfare.
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