US Space Force turns to Leonardo DRS to track hypersonic projectiles from space

The U.S. Space Force has selected Leonardo DRS to advance a new space-based sensing technology designed to detect, identify, track, and target fast-moving threats. The company received an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) contract for prototype development, with the technology intended to support U.S. space superiority and space control missions. New sensor aims to maintain track of difficult targets Leonardo DRS said the project will focus on developing affordable and scalable sensor technology capable of helping defense systems maintain awareness of fast-moving threats under challenging conditions. The company has not disclosed what specific threats the sensor is intended to track, nor has it revealed details such as its detection range, spectral bands, orbital architecture, development timeline, or contract value. According to Army Recognition, the system is intended to help maintain custody of maneuvering or otherwise difficult-to-track targets while producing targeting-quality information for operational decisions. The distinction between detection and tracking is significant. Finding an object is only the beginning. A military sensor must be able to identify it, maintain an accurate track as it moves, and deliver useful information to command-and-control systems. Losing track of a maneuvering target can create gaps that require the object to be reacquired before action can be taken. A space-based sensor capable of maintaining persistent custody could therefore help reduce those gaps and provide more timely information to systems responsible for responding to threats. The technology could have relevance to emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons and counterspace systems, which place increasing demands on detection speed, track persistence, and data processing. However, Leonardo DRS has not identified either as the specific target of this program. Space Force is accelerating space technology development The award is part of a bigger U.S. Space Force effort to develop and field advanced technologies for space combat missions. The service has been using Other Transaction Agreements to move promising technologies through prototype development and testing more quickly. The Space Force said seven such agreements were awarded in May and June 2026, with six additional awards planned, bringing the broader effort to 13 agreements worth more than $500 million. This initiative also highlights the growing importance of space-based sensing as military operations become increasingly dependent on satellites and potential adversaries develop capabilities to disrupt or attack them. Leonardo DRS already has experience developing advanced infrared sensing systems for U.S. government and allied missions across land, sea, air, and space. Focus extends beyond sensor performance Leonardo DRS said affordability and manufacturability are central to the new program. The company plans to leverage advances in sensing and processing while developing designs that can be produced more efficiently and scaled to meet demand. It also highlighted the need for a resilient supply chain capable of supporting urgent national security requirements. That could prove important if the technology eventually moves from prototype to an operational space architecture. A sensor that can be manufactured affordably and in useful numbers could provide greater coverage and resilience than a small number of highly capable but expensive systems. As of now, the project remains in the prototype-development stage.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.