- Space Delta 7 has stood up a new unit dedicated to space-based moving target indication
- The squadron’s personnel is set to grow through 2028
- The 2026 Intel Summit will explore OSINT, AI in intelligence operations and more
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Delta 7 has activated the 77th Surveillance Squadron, or 77 SURS, to manage and deliver space-based moving target indication intelligence to joint warfighters across the Department of War.
As the intelligence community adapts to a fast-changing threat landscape and the growing role of space-based sensing, government and industry leaders will gather at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Intel Summit on Sept. 24 to discuss open-source intelligence, the role of AI in intelligence operations, cybersecurity in the agentic AI era, quantum risk and more. Sign up now!
What Is the 77th Surveillance Squadron?
The Space Force said Tuesday 77 SURS is a Space Delta 7 unit temporarily based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, that supports the Space-based Moving Target Indication, or SB-MTI, mission for DOW.
The squadron’s activation supports the U.S. Space Force’s Objective Force 2040 vision, which calls for a shift toward distributed, hybrid space architectures to maintain persistent vigilance in contested domains.
The unit integrates an even mix of intelligence and space operations personnel into combined crews and is expected to grow to 45 billets in 2027 and 61 billets in 2028.
What Is the Scope of the 77th Surveillance Squadron’s Mission?
The 77 SURS serves as the primary unit for the SB-MTI mission, which is backed by the Space-Based Sensing and Targeting program, and will deliver intelligence to every branch of DOW and its combatant commands.
The squadron provides continuous target tracking and battle management under the High-Capacity F2T2EA program from its home station, while retaining the ability to deploy personnel forward to support combatant commands during a crisis.
What Other Space-Based Tracking Initiatives Has the Space Force Pursued?
In April, the Space Force launched a multivendor acquisition approach to develop Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator capabilities. The effort creates a marketplace for space-based tracking technologies from traditional and non-traditional vendors, allowing the government to evaluate and integrate capabilities from multiple providers.
What Did Col. Nathaniel Peace Say About the Activation of 77 SURS?
Col. Nathaniel Peace, commander of Space Delta 7, said the activation marks a major step for joint warfighting and establishes a persistent space-based capability that feeds tracking data to forces on the ground, in the air and at sea.
“This capability immediately enhances our global combatant commands, giving them the vital battlespace awareness needed to make decisions at speed and hold any adversary at risk,” he noted.
Peace also described the squadron’s structure as a new kind of warfighting team. He said pairing space operators with intelligence analysts breaks down traditional silos and allows the unit to move from identifying a target to delivering actionable data to the joint force more quickly.
