Boeing has opened a new 9,000-square-foot electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload production line at its El Segundo, California satellite facility to support Millennium Space Systems’ growing orders. The expansion enables Boeing to more than double its satellite output to 26 spacecraft in 2026, directly backing 12 satellites for the U.S. Space Force’s Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking Medium Earth Orbit (MWT MEO) program launching in 2027.
This modular, ISO Class 6 cleanroom line accelerates delivery of advanced space-based sensors for missile detection and tracking from medium-Earth orbit. It addresses supply chain delays that pushed the initial MWT MEO launches from 2026 to mid-2027, ensuring resilient missile defense for the U.S. and allies.
Millennium, Boeing’s small spacecraft subsidiary, integrates these Boeing-built EO/IR payloads onto its satellites. The facility’s scale enhances production efficiency without new construction, drawing on Boeing’s high-rate manufacturing expertise including automation and digital engineering.
Beyond MWT MEO, the added capacity supports broader satellite lines amid rising defense and commercial demand for small satellite constellations. Millennium maintains a backlog of 70-80 spacecraft over four years, positioning the partnership for sustained growth in proliferated space architectures.