On May 5, 2026, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) awarded Anduril Industries a $100.3 million contract modification (P00008) to enhance and expand the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). The award increases the total ceiling of the original Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract to $200 million, effectively doubling the scope of the company’s efforts to modernize space domain awareness (SDA) through resilient mesh networking.
Transitioning to a Resilient Mesh Architecture
The primary objective of the contract is the continued development and deployment of SDANet, a next-generation communications architecture designed to replace aging, fragmented legacy systems. Utilizing Anduril’s Lattice software platform, the project creates a decentralized “mesh” that allows ground-based sensors, orbital assets, and command nodes to share tracking data with low latency.
Unlike traditional architectures that rely on centralized hubs, the mesh networking approach ensures that data can be rerouted automatically if a specific node is compromised or fails. This transition is viewed as critical by Space Systems Command (SSC) to maintain a real-time “custody” of high-value targets and debris in an increasingly crowded and contested orbital environment.
From SDA to the “Golden Dome”
The expansion of the SSN contract follows Anduril’s November 2024 designation as a Program of Record for mesh networking. Since the initial award, the company has demonstrated operational success at key nodes, including locations in Hawaii, leading to this ceiling increase.
This modernization effort is a foundational component of the broader U.S. missile defense strategy. In late 2025, Anduril was selected as one of the prime contractors for the USSF “Golden Dome” initiative, which aims to deploy a proliferated space-based interceptor layer. The SDANet provides the essential fire-control data layer required for such a system to detect and track hypersonic and ballistic threats across global ranges.
Global Deployment
The contract work is scheduled to take place at Anduril’s headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, as well as Colorado Springs, Colorado, and various international SDANet node locations.
The U.S. Space Command has mandated full deployment of the modernized network by the end of 2026. Under the terms of this latest modification, continuous development and sustainment of the upgraded sensors and mesh infrastructure are slated to continue through September 23, 2027.
