The U.S. Space Force selected 15 companies on July 9 to compete for up to $981 million in contracts to develop satellites, sensors and other systems for realistic training at the National Space Test and Training Complex. The six‑year NITE‑STAR contracting vehicle will support the development of a network of physical ranges and simulated environments where operators can practice responding to threats against U.S. satellites. The contract, formally called National Space Test and Training Complex Innovative Technology and Engineering — Space Test and Range Capability Development, allows the government to establish a pool of qualified suppliers and hold competitions for individual task orders. Space Systems Command said the award includes a five‑year base period and a one‑year option, with task orders potentially extending to 2032. The selected vendors include Amentum, BAE Systems, Boeing, CACI, Firefly Aerospace, L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman, Pacific Crest Alliance, Parsons Government Services, Redwire, Rocket Lab, Sierra Space, Viasat and York Space Systems. The program will provide equipment and software that can simulate adversary behavior in orbit and reproduce cyberattacks, communications jamming and electronic warfare. Officials said the effort addresses gaps in current training, which relies on classroom instruction and older simulation tools that cannot fully replicate the speed, distance and visibility challenges of space operations. The Space Force is developing a live‑virtual‑constructive training environment that will combine real spacecraft, ground equipment and high‑fidelity simulations with computer‑generated threats. NITE‑STAR focuses on the live and constructive components, including satellites, sensors, instrumentation and supporting infrastructure, to let operators rehearse complex missions without risking operational assets. The service currently lacks a large combat‑training range comparable to the Air Force’s pilot training facilities, presenting additional technical challenges for space training. The contract awards are expected to shape training capabilities for the next decade, but the Space Force has not yet outlined how the new systems will be integrated into existing operator curricula.