Sierra Space lands $800M Golden Dome satellite contract

Driving the news: The Louisville-based company won a Space Development Agency contract to design, manufacture and deliver 18 missile-warning, tracking and defense satellites.

• The deal is worth up to $798 million, per a release.

Between the lines: Sierra Space is one of Boulder County's largest aerospace employers, making the contract another major federal investment in the region's growing space industry.

• The company is already building satellites for an earlier Tracking Layer contract and says it's completed the structures for all 18 spacecraft.

What they're saying: "This contract demonstrates Sierra Space's capabilities as a formidable player in American national security," CEO Dan Jablonsky said in the release.

The bottom line: Colorado companies are now on track to build one-third of the missile-tracking satellites awarded so far for the Golden Dome system, according to the Denver Post.

• Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris Technologies previously won contracts for the first 72 satellites.