The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a multibillion-dollar contract to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, to launch military satellites into space by 2029.

The U.S. Space Command announced this.

In total, three contracts were signed with leading American companies—SpaceX, United Launch Services, and Blue Origin, aimed at enhancing the space capabilities for intelligence and surveillance.

The combined value of these contracts is estimated at $13.5 billion, with SpaceX receiving $5.9 billion, United Launch Services – $5.3 billion, and Blue Origin – $2.3 billion.

“A reliable and resilient space launch architecture is the foundation of both our economic prosperity and national security,” said General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force.

According to the third phase procurement strategy, a two-tiered approach has been established with two separate types of contracts to meet the needs of the program and national security, ensuring guaranteed access to space for the integrated space architecture at an affordable cost.

As noted by the U.S. Space Command, the number of launches in phase three will be twice as many, totaling 54 compared to phase two, which had only 30 launches.

This will allow for both the expansion of the satellite constellation and the replacement of those that are reaching the end of their operational lifespan.

The launch of these satellites is set to begin in the 2025 fiscal year and conclude in the 2029 fiscal year.

It is expected that SpaceX, as the contractor for Requirement 1, will receive orders for 28 launches, or about 60%, while United Launch Alliance (ULA), as the contractor for Requirement 2, will handle 19 launches, or approximately 40% of the phase three missions from 2025 to 2029.

Meanwhile, Blue Origin, as the contractor for Requirement 3, is forecasted to receive seven missions in phase three, starting in the second year of the orders.

Militarnyi previously reported that SpaceX had received a contract from the U.S. military to demonstrate cargo delivery technologies around the world using rockets.