In a move to secure its assets in an increasingly congested orbital environment, the Defence Investment Agency has awarded MDA Space a $32 million contract to build and operate three Ground-Based Optical (GBO) observatories, marking a major milestone in the long-anticipated Surveillance of Space 2 (SofS 2) project.
Under the contract, MDA Space is tasked with delivering three remotely operated GBO observatories by 2028. To ensure overlapping night-sky coverage and mitigate localized weather disruptions, the facilities will be strategically dispersed across Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick.
This new ground network is designed to work in tandem with Canada’s existing Sapphire military satellite. By combining these ground-based telescopes with Sapphire’s established on-orbit monitoring, the Canadian Armed Forces will secure a hybrid architecture to continuously detect, track, and monitor deep-space objects. As orbits grow increasingly congested, this integrated system will provide the resilient, 24/7 space domain awareness required to safeguard critical national assets.
Pointing to the urgency of this capability, MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley noted, “As space becomes more contested, congested and competitive, persistent surveillance and space domain awareness provides the Canadian Armed Forces and trusted allies with a better understanding of what is happening in a complex environment they can’t otherwise see.”
This sentiment was echoed by the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), who stated that “Canada’s security depends on the space‑based systems that enable everything from communications and navigation to weather forecasting and emergency response.”
The government also noted that the six-year contract is expected to create or support close to 80 jobs annually, contributing approximately $9 million a year to Canada’s gross domestic product.
The Sapphire satellite was launched in 2013 and has lived significantly beyond its original 5-year operating lifespan. One might expect that the Department of National Defence would have a plan in place to add new satellites as part of a follow-on Surveillance of Space X program. Additionally, it might be possible that commercial assets could be used, either new or existing. One such Canadian company offering these capabilities is NorthStar Earth & Space.
Following the successful deployment of the new GBO observatories, the MDA Space contract includes an in-service support phase running through 2031. During this period, MDA Space will ensure the network remains maintained and integrated with Canadian Armed Forces systems.