This milestone marks a significant step forward in enhancing US and allied space domain awareness and ensuring space superiority, a key component of modern national security.
L3Harris president of space and airborne systems, Ed Zoiss, said the declaration supports Space Force Chief of Operations General B Chance Saltzman’s priorities of maintaining awareness and control across increasingly contested orbits.
“This pivotal milestone aligns with General Saltzman’s top priorities at the Space Force to help ensure space superiority, an essential element of our nation’s security. The Space Force requires timely, accurate and relevant information to avoid operational surprise, and ATLAS meets this demand by providing essential, actionable space domain awareness,” Zoiss said.
ATLAS integrates a broad range of data streams, including space surveillance, command and control (C2), intelligence, and operational readiness to enable defence personnel to detect, assess and respond to emerging anti-satellite threats in real time.
Earlier this year, L3Harris was selected for a follow-on contract to further develop and modernise ATLAS, with a focus on improving satellite and debris tracking through upgraded C2 systems and analytical tools.
The upgrades are expected to increase the speed, precision and relevance of orbital data processing, allowing operators to make faster and more informed decisions in space operations.
For decades, L3Harris has been a key contributor to the United States’ space superiority mission, delivering technologies that safeguard critical space assets and enhance the readiness of military and allied forces.
“ATLAS is designed to ensure the Space Force and its partners can anticipate and respond to threats with speed and confidence,” Zoiss added.
The ATLAS program’s ongoing modernisation will further strengthen the Space Force’s capacity to maintain strategic advantage, prevent operational surprise and ensure a secure and resilient presence in the rapidly evolving space domain.