A new report from the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E), released March 16, 2026, reveals that the U.S. Space Force’s next-generation command-and-control (C2) system is not yet mature enough to replace its 1980s-era predecessor.
Despite the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) achieving operational acceptance in late 2025, the oversight office determined the system lacks the “minimum viable capability” required to decommission the aging Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC).
The report, which analyzed test events conducted prior to the system’s acceptance, highlighted “deficiencies consistent with system immaturity.” These findings underscore the ongoing technical hurdles facing L3Harris Technologies, the primary contractor, and Space Systems Command (SSC) as they attempt to modernize the foundational software used to track orbital activity and respond to anti-satellite threats.
The Decades-Long Effort to Replace SPADOC
The effort to retire SPADOC—a system fielded in 1979—has been a recurring challenge for military space acquisitions. Previous attempts, such as the Joint Space Operations Center Mission System (JMS), were canceled in 2018 after falling years behind schedule and exceeding budgets by nearly $140 million.
ATLAS was intended to be the remedy, designed under the Pentagon’s rapid software acquisition pathway. However, integration challenges delayed its initial fielding by nearly three years, leading former acquisition executive Frank Calvelli to designate it a “troubled program.” While ATLAS reached a milestone of “Initial Operations” in September 2025, the DOT&E findings suggest that Guardians must continue to maintain operational dependency on SPADOC until critical software bugs are resolved.
Program Status and Software Restructuring
In response to the development lag, the Space Force restructured the broader Space C2 program in May 2025. This move separated the mission into two parallel components:
- ATLAS: Remains focused on foundational Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and data processing.
- Kronos: A new component dedicated to providing battlespace awareness tools, theater support, and active space defense capabilities.
The DOT&E report notes that while ATLAS works toward decommissioning SPADOC, the Kronos program is still in the early stages of developing its test and evaluation strategy.
“The ATLAS team remains dedicated to continuous improvement, ensuring that the software is continuously evolved to meet emerging gaps in step with the evolution of space capabilities,” said Shannon Pallone, Program Executive Officer for Battle Management C3 at Space Systems Command, in a statement addressing the system’s operational status.
System Deficiencies and Technical Risks
The March 16 report identified several key areas where ATLAS failed to meet the threshold for SPADOC retirement:
- Astrometric Precision: Challenges in maintaining the speed and accuracy required for high-fidelity satellite and debris tracking.
- System Stability: Testing revealed reliability issues during high-volume data processing events.
- Integration Gaps: Failure to fully synthesize data across the combined force to deliver a seamless, bidirectional space picture.
Despite the critical DOT&E findings, Space Force officials maintain that a “deliberate plan” is in place to decommission SPADOC by the end of 2026. This timeline is contingent on the successful delivery of follow-on “astrometric tools” under a $90 million contract awarded to L3Harris in March 2025. These tools are specifically designed to close the capability gaps identified during last year’s operational assessments.
