The Space Force has restructured its contract with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) for a prototype weather imaging satellite to bridge the gap between the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and its successor. This contract includes purchasing an additional operational demonstration satellite and extending the on-orbit lifetime of the systems. The new agreement involves five years of support from GA-EMS to keep the satellites operational until 2030.
The $380 million contract, which is a firm-fixed price vehicle, transfers the cost risk to GA-EMS, reducing the financial liability on the government compared to the previous contract structure. This shift aligns with the Air Force’s direction to move away from cost-plus contracts, as emphasized by Frank Calvelli, the Air Force space acquisition czar.
The goal is to launch the first GA-EMS satellite this year, as stated in a recent company press release. The focus is on providing reliable and timely weather prediction data critical for military decision-makers worldwide.
The initiative to replace the aging DMSP satellites has faced challenges over the years. Setbacks, such as the anomaly experienced by Orion’s CubeSat and the collapse of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) in 2010, have complicated the process. Despite these obstacles, programs like the Electro-Optical Infrared Weather Systems (EWS) are working towards modernizing weather imaging capabilities for the Space Force.
