SciTec wins US Space Force interceptor programme agreement
Updated
Updated · Firefly Aerospace · May 4
SciTec wins US Space Force interceptor programme agreement
11 articles · Updated · Firefly Aerospace · May 4
The Firefly Aerospace subsidiary is among 12 companies sharing 20 OTA awards worth up to $3.2 billion under Space Systems Command.
The Space-Based Interceptor programme aims to deliver a space-based missile defence layer, combining next-generation tracking, advanced interceptors and artificial intelligence within the Golden Dome architecture by 2028.
SciTec said it will contribute AI-enabled sensing, data fusion and mission software, extending more than 45 years of work for US defence and intelligence missions.
Can an AI-powered space shield be safe when ethically-focused AI firms are blacklisted from its development?
How will America's $185 billion 'space shield' impact the escalating global arms race?
Is the Golden Dome a realistic defense against hypersonic missiles or an impossibly expensive 'Star Wars' reboot?
Golden Dome Missile Defense: $3.2B Space Force SBI Program Faces Technical, Budget, and Geopolitical Hurdles
Overview
In April 2026, SciTec secured a key contract under the Space-Based Interceptor (SBI) program, part of the ambitious $185 billion Golden Dome missile defense system aimed at protecting the U.S. from advanced missile threats. The SBI program, backed by a $3.2 billion funding pool awarded to 12 companies, focuses on developing AI-driven interceptors in low Earth orbit to counter ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles by 2028. However, the program faces major technical challenges, high costs, and skepticism about its aggressive timeline. Additionally, Golden Dome raises geopolitical concerns, as adversaries may respond by expanding their arsenals, potentially fueling an arms race and complicating global strategic stability.