Polaris Intelligence
Polaris
Intelligence
About
Ctrl K
Sign in
© Polaris Intelligence 2026
PrivacyTermsAdmin

U.S. Department of Defense

US

The Department of Defense (DOD) is a U.S. government agency responsible for military and national security space activities. It acts as a major procurer and operator of space systems, including launch vehicles and satellite systems for reconnaissance, missile launch detection, navigation, and communication. The DOD aims to maintain space superiority, integrate military space power, and ensure space stability, working with commercial firms to integrate space solutions into national security architectures.

gov defense
United States
www.defense.gov/
Admin Edit
0.0-5.0

All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The Department of Defense includes proliferated LEO (pLEO) constellations in its strategy to provide additional resilience for satellite communications, remote sensing, and other capabilities by diversifying orbits.

PlanGeneralValue 2.0Sep 11, 2023Viasat Awarded Contract by U.S. Space Force for PLEO Satellite Services

The Department of Defense has signed agreements with SpaceX and other satellite communications providers to support Ukraine.

RelationshipsValue 3.8Sep 11, 2023Air Force satisfied with SpaceX services, not concerned about its growing dominance

Once in orbit, WSF-M will provide the Department of Defense with data on snow depth.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.5Sep 11, 2023Ball Aerospace Successfully Completes Testing on SSC's Weather Monitoring Satellite

Once in orbit, WSF-M will provide the Department of Defense with data on tropical cyclone intensity.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 11, 2023Ball Aerospace Successfully Completes Testing on SSC's Weather Monitoring Satellite

Once in orbit, WSF-M will provide the Department of Defense with data on ice thickness.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Sep 11, 2023Ball Aerospace Successfully Completes Testing on SSC's Weather Monitoring Satellite

Once in orbit, WSF-M will provide the Department of Defense with data on soil moisture.

CapabilityValue 4.2Sep 11, 2023Ball Aerospace Successfully Completes Testing on SSC's Weather Monitoring Satellite

Space Systems Command manages a $15,000,000,000 space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense.

FinancialValue 4.0Sep 10, 2023United Launch Alliance’s successful launch of NROL-107 on mission for Space Systems Command and NRO

Space Systems Command manages a $15,000,000,000 space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense.

FinancialGeneralValue 4.0Sep 10, 2023Statement from Space Systems Command preparing for the NROL-107 mission aboard ULA’s “The Bruiser” rocket

The Department of Defense will continue investing in traditional platforms while also deploying large numbers of autonomous systems to achieve mass.

PlanGrowthValue 2.0Sep 6, 2023Pentagon’s new plan to counter China includes swarms of smart satellites

Freedom Space is purpose-built in Colorado Springs to support requirements of the United States Department of Defense and National Security Space organizations, including classified missions.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.0Sep 6, 2023Freedom Space gains traction with Government customers

The Pentagon is advocating the use of low-cost autonomous platforms that can be mass produced and deployed at sea, on land, in the air, and in space to counter China’s military buildup.

GeneralCapabilityValue 2.5Sep 6, 2023Pentagon’s new plan to counter China includes swarms of smart satellites

The Ambassador platform offers optional Type 1 encryption and is aimed at Department of Defense and intelligence customers.

CapabilityLegalValue 3.0Sep 6, 2023Terran Orbital unveils new product line of seven satellite buses

Terran Orbital supplies satellite buses for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture through Lockheed Martin.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.5Sep 6, 2023Terran Orbital unveils seven standard satellite buses

The Department of Defense intends to eventually stop buying geostationary missile-warning satellites.

PlanValue 2.0Sep 6, 2023Space Development Agency solicits bids for 54 missile-tracking satellites

The Tracking Layer is intended to augment the Department of Defense’s current missile-warning satellites in geostationary Earth orbit.

CapabilityValue 3.0Sep 6, 2023Space Development Agency solicits bids for 54 missile-tracking satellites

Ryan Tseng noted that Shield AI and AFWERX decided from the start to field the autonomy capability within the Department of Defense (DoD).

CapabilityValue 3.0Sep 4, 2023Shield AI demos V-BATs with AFWERX

Shield AI’s products and personnel are currently supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies.

RelationshipsValue 2.0Sep 4, 2023Shield AI demos V-BATs with AFWERX

Astranis engaged the Department of Defense and invested private funds to develop software-defined radio technology for on-orbit communications.

RelationshipsCapabilityFinancialValue 4.0Aug 29, 2023Astranis to Demonstrate Secure Satellite Communications for US Government Mission

SDA preferred to select more vendors for Tranche 2 Beta but had limited options because only experienced Department of Defense contractors understood how to work with the highly complex radios and waveforms required for military tactical communications.

PlanCapabilityRelationshipsValue 3.2Aug 29, 2023Space Development Agency’s data-transport satellites get more complex

Benchmark Space Systems developed an ASCENT thruster technology that provides high-thrust scalability intended to make ASCENT viable across the performance range required by Department of Defense dynamic space operations.

CapabilityValue 4.0Aug 29, 2023Press Release: Benchmark Space Systems Wins Second Air Force Research Lab Contract to Test New Thrusters on Non-Toxic ASCENT Fuel
Page31of103
Track