Share ArticleAudio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgThe Space Force awarded SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract to conduct 18 launches for communications and targeting satellites by the end of 2027. The satellites are part of the Space Based Sensing and Targeting Portfolio, which includes the Space-Based Air Moving Target Indication program and the Space Data Network, two high-priority Space Force programs. The Space Force uses its NSSL Lane 1 contracting mechanism to launch national security payloads with less stringent mission assurance requirements. Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families.