Redwire Selected for U.S. Space Security Contract
The company joins a 15-vendor pool for a $980 million project supporting national security test infrastructure.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Space
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Redwire Corporation has been selected as one of 15 vendors to participate in a $980 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle. This agreement is designed to support the development and maintenance of U.S. national security space test infrastructure.
Why it matters
The contract enables the U.S. Space Force to source specialized technical capabilities from a modular pool of providers to meet evolving orbital operations needs. This selection process allows the military to rapidly access advanced engineering resources as security requirements shift.
The contract operates as a multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle, which facilitates flexible procurement across a cohort of 15 vendors. While the aggregate ceiling is $980 million, the structure includes no guaranteed revenue for individual participants.
The players
Redwire Corporation
An aerospace company specializing in space infrastructure, solar arrays, and digital engineering services for government and commercial missions.
Space Systems Command
The U.S. Space Force field command responsible for the research, development, and acquisition of space-based military systems.
The details
Space Systems Command, the arm of the U.S. Space Force responsible for developing and acquiring space capabilities, utilized the IDIQ process to build a vendor pool. An IDIQ is a contracting mechanism that allows the government to place orders for supplies or services on an as-needed basis over the life of an agreement. Redwire is tasked with providing advanced capabilities to modernize and maintain testing environments that simulate space conditions for national security payloads.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: Redwire Corporation announced its selection for the NITE-STAR contract.
The Tech Race
This agreement marks an expansion of the U.S. Space Force’s strategy to utilize diverse, modular vendor pools for critical national security infrastructure. It follows a pattern set by previous IDIQ programs designed to outpace evolving orbital threats through rapid, scalable procurement.
The contract establishes a framework for future government orders rather than immediate project deployment. Industry stakeholders and potential partners should monitor for specific task orders issued under the NITE-STAR vehicle to determine the timeline for technical deliveries.
The takeaway
This selection positions Redwire to compete for a share of nearly $1 billion in potential task orders related to national security test environments. Observers should track the first task orders issued under this IDIQ to identify which specific technical focus areas the Space Force is prioritizing.
Further reading
For more on how the U.S. military is updating its orbital capabilities, explore our Space archives.
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Should the government prioritize hiring private contractors for national space security infrastructure?
