The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Space Systems Command (SSC) are taking the next step to deliver Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) reconnaissance capabilities to the United States Department of War, the organizations announced September 18. The project, known as “GHOST-R,” leverages commercially developed space vehicles, buses, and electro-optical payloads to deliver high-resolution space-to-space imagery for characterizing resident space objects in GEO.
Scheduled for a 2028 delivery, the GHOST-R program supports the SSC RG-XX office by developing lower-cost, reconnaissance-focused satellites for the constellation.
“Collaborating with DIU on GHOST-R is a true force multiplier. We are leveraging rapid prototyping to push the envelope of what commercial tech can deliver to the RG-XX program,” said Col. Bryon McClain, acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Space Combat Power. “This approach burns down technical risk, drives down lifecycle costs, and gets vital capability to the warfighter faster to ensure a more resilient architecture. Successful prototypes will have a direct path to transition into the program of record.”
This SSC/DIU partnership operates under a synchronized “customer and accelerator” model. By deliberately streamlining standard defense acquisition overhead and trading rigid, extensive requirements for rapid deployment velocity, DIU enables the joint enterprise to compress acquisition timelines and field prototype capability years ahead of conventional procurement cycles.
The organizations have awarded prototype contracts to True Anomaly and Northrop Grumman to drive down costs and accelerate timelines in this critical area. To build these next-generation reconnaissance vehicles, these vendors are leveraging proven commercial buses and integrating cutting-edge electro-optical payloads, SSC said.
Launching directly to GEO by 2028, these reconnaissance prototypes are on a rapid path to transition, performing fully government-owned and operated missions for the United States Space Force by 2029.
Source: SSC
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