The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract to build a satellite constellation designed to track airborne threats such as aircraft, missiles, and hypersonic weapons from space.

The Air Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) program aims to shift key battlefield surveillance functions from aircraft to satellites, providing broader global coverage and greater resilience against advanced enemy defenses.

The system is expected to be deployed by 2028 and will form part of a larger space-based sensing and communications network alongside other SpaceX defense contracts.

Officials said SpaceX will not be the only contractor, as the Pentagon plans to involve multiple companies in building a layered architecture, Space News has reported.

The program reflects a broader U.S. military push to modernize surveillance by integrating commercial space technology into national security operations.