United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), has won a potential $441.7M contract to help the U.S. Air Force send three national security satellites into space with the Atlas V rocket.The contracting division at the Space and Missile Systems Center’s launch systems enterprise directorate received two offers for the firm-fixed-price contract, which primarily covers the SILENTBARKER and Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit-5 missions, the Department of Defense said Tuesday.
ULA would launch an additional SBIRS GEO-6 mission if an option is exercised.
DoD expects SBIRS GEO-5 to lift off in March 2021 from Cape Canaveral AF Station in Florida, followed by SILENTBARKER in 2022.
Tory Bruno, president and CEO of ULA, said the company “is honored to be selected to launch three missions in this procurement block buy.”
Bruno added the company draws on its space mission support experience with government customers as the firm transitions to its Vulcan Centaur rocket technology, designed to help USAF ensure access to space.
Work under the contract includes launch vehicle production, mission integration and launch operations, spaceflight worthiness and mission unique activities.
The service branch will obligate $308.5M at the time of award from its fiscal 2018 and 2019 space procurement funds.
