NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

Contract Highlights

By Jill Hamilton

If Q1 was about rockets and readiness, Q2 2025 proved the Department of Defense is doubling down on space dominance, cutting-edge research, and long-term infrastructure. From multibillion-dollar lab partnerships to fueling the future of the Space Force, here are the biggest contracts shaping defense priorities this quarter.

3 .

$5.4 Billion ULA Still in the Space Race

$2.4 Billion Raytheon/Blue Origin Enters the Chat Awarded April 4, 2025 Air Force | Blue Origin $2.2 Billion T-6A Trainer Gets an Upgrade Awarded June 16, 2025 Air Force | Borsight Inc $1.85 Billion Virginia-Class Sub Prep Awarded June 26, 2025 Navy | General Dynamics Electric Boat $1.73 Billion Night Vision for the Next Fight Awarded June 6, 2025 Army | Lockheed Martin Strategy Behind the Spend If Q2 had a theme, it was long-term readiness. From launch pads to submarines, and from basic research to global fuel logistics, the Pentagon is investing in platforms and partnerships that will shape U.S. dominance well into the 2030s. And with the continued rise of commercial players like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the defense-industrial base is only getting more complex—and competitive. Q3 is coming in hot. Stay tuned.

Top 3 Biggest Defense Contracts in Q2 2025 $12.2 Billion

1 .

Awarded April 4, 2025 Air Force | United Launch Alliance

MIT’s Lincoln Lab Keeps Leading the Way

ULA isn’t ceding ground to SpaceX just yet. The Air Force split its NSS Phase 3 launch services, with ULA securing a $5.4 billion contract of its own. The long list of deliverables includes mission acceleration, anomaly resolution, and fleet surveillance—all critical for assured access to space. The competition is fierce, and the Pentagon is hedging its bets. Honorary Mentions: The Rest of the Top 10 $4.0 Billion Space Force Range Support Awarded Jun 2, 2025 Air Force | Jacobs Technology $3.3 Billion SM-3 Missile Support Awarded May 12, 2025 Missile Defense Agency | Raytheon $2.5 Billion

Awarded April 1, 2025 Air Force | Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Air Force renewed its crown jewel research partnership with MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, awarding a whopping $12.2 billion IDIQ contract. The lab will continue spearheading R&D and rapid prototyping for everything from advanced radar to national security space systems through 2030. It’s the kind of long-game investment that quietly powers mission- critical tech across the defense enterprise. $5.9 Billion SpaceX Anchors Lane 2 of NSS Launch Awarded April 4, 2025 Air Force | SpaceX The Pentagon locked in SpaceX for its next phase of National Security Space (NSS) launches. The contract covers everything from launch services to anomaly response across multiple sites—Cape Canaveral, Kennedy, Vandenberg, and beyond. With commercial providers now carrying the load for high-stakes payloads, space continues to be one of the most high- profile battlegrounds for defense dollars. 2 .

Fueling the Mission Awarded May 27, 2025 Air Force | Pond Constructors