Missile Defense Agency

The Missile Defense Agency, a defense sub-agency within the Department of Defense, develops and acquires air and ballistic missile defense systems, sensors, interceptors, command-and-control platforms, and supporting engineering services to counter threats worldwide. MDA transacts almost exclusively through federal contracting; grant activity is negligible.

MDA has awarded 18,075 federal contracts totaling $156.92 billion in combined potential value since 1986. Recent contract activity shows volatility: 941 awards in 2022, 598 in 2023, 405 in 2024, a spike to 2,427 in 2025, and 444 year-to-date in 2026. The most recently recorded award date is August 12, 2026. MDA's contract base spans 5,053 distinct prime contractors, indicating a broad industrial base. About 73 percent of awards carry no set-aside designation; the remaining 27 percent split among small-business categories, with Total Small Business accounting for 26 percent of all awards. 8(a) awards, SDVOSB awards, HUBZone awards, and other minority or disadvantage set-asides each represent less than one percent of the portfolio.

Raytheon Company leads the competitive landscape by both award count and potential value over the last five years, with 93 awards totaling $3.12 billion. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC ranks second by value with 35 awards worth $614.4 million, and Corvid Technologies, LLC third with 63 awards valued at $235.2 million. The top five primes account for 5 percent of recent award count and 3 percent of combined potential value, indicating a highly fragmented competitive base in which no single contractor dominates the portfolio.

MDA granted seven Block Grants totaling $44 thousand across seven recipients in 2023; no grant activity has been recorded since November 2023. New Mexico State University, Troy University, South Dakota State University, Alabama State University, and Bowling Green State University each received one grant. This grant footprint is minimal and dormant relative to MDA's contract operations.

Current contract opportunities include solicitation 26-MDA-12366 for Mobile Integrated Launch Capability, a two-phase effort to design and prototype mobile launch platforms for target missiles globally, with a due date of September 30, 2028 (no set-aside). Solicitation HQ0860-26-S-C007 seeks industry solutions for a Shipborne Phased Array Instrumentation Radar prototype integrated into a ship-based platform for flight test support, due July 20, 2026, with two posted amendments as of July 2, 2026 (no set-aside). A pre-solicitation Request for Information (OPPDE2600001) from the Directorate of Engineering Analytical Services sought Quick Reaction Team analysis and support proposals with a due date of July 20, 2026. MDA is also hosting the Innovate 2026 Tech Forum in Huntsville, Alabama on July 21–23, 2026 for government, industry, small business, and academia to engage in missile defense innovation. Offerors responding to classified solicitations must hold an active Secret Facility Clearance or higher.

The Missile Defense Agency is a research, development, and acquisition agency that works on ballistic missile defense systems for the United States and its allies.