4 minute read•Updated 9:34 AM EDT, Wed April 9, 2025
Eight missile-tracking satellites developed by Millennium Space Systems, carrying advanced sensor payloads from L3Harris Technologies, have successfully passed a major design milestone. With the Critical Design Review (CDR) now complete, the program enters its production phase ahead of a scheduled launch in late 2027.
The satellites are being built under a $414 million contract awarded by the Space Development Agency (SDA) for a constellation called Foo Fighter, short for Fire-control On Orbit-support to the Warfighter.
These spacecraft will play a crucial role in the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a growing network of low-Earth orbit satellites designed to provide persistent global surveillance, missile tracking, targeting, and secure communications to support U.S. military operations.
“The completion of this design review marks the transition to the production phase of the program...It’s a good waypoint for us to demonstrate successful execution.” - Tony Gingiss, CEO of Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing subsidiary.
The company is tasked with delivering the full eight-satellite constellation, a supporting ground system, and post-launch mission operations by 2026, a year ahead of the expected deployment to orbit. Millennium is currently constructing a new 17,000-square-foot facility at its El Segundo, California, campus to support the production ramp-up.
High-Stakes Production Underway
Producing eight sophisticated satellites within a short timeline presents significant challenges. While categorized as small satellites, the Foo Fighter vehicles are notably large and complex in comparison to typical smallsat designs.
“These are pretty sizable vehicles,...It’s a pretty big run for a small satellite program.” - Tony Gingiss, CEO of Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing subsidiary.
The satellites are tailored for missile defense, specifically engineered to track advanced and evasive threats such as hypersonic weapons, missiles capable of flying at high speeds while performing unpredictable maneuvers. This class of weapon poses a particular challenge to traditional detection systems, requiring rapid, high-fidelity data from space-based platforms.
Fire-Control Sensors: The Cutting Edge
At the heart of the Foo Fighter spacecraft are “fire control quality sensors” developed by L3Harris Technologies. These state-of-the-art infrared payloads are designed to deliver precision data to ground-based interceptor systems, enhancing the U.S. military’s ability to neutralize missile threats before they strike.
“The sensors are capable of high-fidelity tracking of targets and providing exact coordinates to weapon systems on the ground,...This level of accuracy aims to improve the success rate of missile intercepts." - L3Harris Statement.
L3Harris recently completed a production readiness review for these payloads. Manufacturing will be centered at the company’s Wilmington, Massachusetts, facility, which has received a $10 million upgrade to boost output.
Building for the Future
Beyond the Foo Fighter program, L3Harris is investing heavily in long-term production capacity. The company is putting $200 million into facility upgrades at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Palm Bay, Florida, part of a broader strategy to meet anticipated demand for missile warning and tracking sensors.
“As the U.S. confronts emerging challenges from near-peer adversaries, the importance of persistent, space-based missile tracking has never been greater,” - Charles Clarkson, Vice President and General Manager of L3Harris’ Space Superiority and Imaging division
A Piece of the Golden Dome
The Foo Fighter constellation is expected to be a cornerstone of Golden Dome, an ambitious missile defense initiative first outlined during the Trump administration. Though still in its early phases, Golden Dome aims to tightly integrate space-based sensors and communications with terrestrial missile interception systems.
The initiative reflects a strategic pivot toward layered missile defense, where data from proliferated satellite constellations like Foo Fighter can enable faster and more accurate threat detection and response.
As the U.S. bolsters its space-based deterrence infrastructure, the Foo Fighter satellites represent a critical step in achieving real-time missile tracking and fire-control from orbit, a capability long sought by defense planners.
