Space Force Taps Sphinx Defense for $287 Million Nuclear Command Software

The U.S. Space Force awarded a $287 million contract to Sphinx Defense on Monday, July 27, 2026, to deliver mission planning software for the GRIFFON program, the ground control architecture supporting strategic nuclear communications. The award advances the software ground segment for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications system, which provides secure, survivable communications for national command authorities and strategic nuclear forces.

The Ground Resilient Integration and Framework for Operational Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications framework serves as the primary software ground segment for the ESS weapon system, replacing legacy ground infrastructure used by the Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation. Built using the Department of Defense's Software Acquisition Pathway, the application layer emphasizes containerized microservices and rapid software delivery models to support global nuclear command capabilities.

Under the agreement, Sphinx Defense will develop, integrate, and deploy cloud-native software tools designed to manage payload resources, dynamic beam routing, and operational mission planning across the ESS constellation. The system automates complex transponder resource allocations, anti-jamming frequency scheduling, and cryptographic key management. It connects space operations centers directly with multi-domain joint terminals and secure ground entry points while maintaining compartmentalized multi-level security protocols verified through government testing facilities.

The contract builds on a series of acquisition milestones established by Space Systems Command to modernize the nation's Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications enterprise. In previous prototyping cycles, Sphinx Defense was selected as one of 20 software providers under the Space Force's Rapid Resilient Command and Control program to build cloud-based ground station software. The software infrastructure will interface directly with hardware being developed for the space segment. Space Systems Command previously awarded Boeing a $2.8 billion contract for the initial ESS satellites to establish the spaceborne layer. Independent verification and cyber testing of the software framework continue under an ongoing support contract with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

The award positions the GRIFFON software as the operational layer that manages the ESS constellation, handling transponder allocation, frequency scheduling, and cryptographic key management for strategic nuclear command capabilities. It replaces the legacy ground infrastructure tied to the AEHF constellation.

Sphinx Defense will execute software development and integration sprints over a multi-year period to align with upcoming ESS satellite launch milestones. Initial operational testing of the GRIFFON software suite will take place at government test beds prior to full operational acceptance alongside the first ESS space segment deployments.