Millennium Space Systems is gaining momentum in small satellite production and aims to double its output by 2026. As the company gears up for expansion, it’s working to strike a balance between increasing manufacturing capacity and maintaining operational efficiency.
Tony Gingiss, who took over as CEO last December, told Defense News that his initial focus has been on managing the company’s growth process. Founded in 2001 and acquired by Boeing in 2018, Millennium has delivered 14 commercial and government satellites to orbit so far. However, the company expects to match that total in satellite production this year alone. Gingiss stated that the number of deliveries will double in 2026.
Millennium currently has a backlog of around 70 to 80 spacecraft scheduled for delivery over the next four years. “It’s critical not only to meet current demand but also to attract new customers and prepare infrastructure for future projects,” Gingiss emphasized.
The company is a key contributor to U.S. Space Force programs, including 12 satellites for the Missile Track Custody program and eight satellites for the Foo Fighter initiative—both focused on space-based missile detection and tracking. Initial deliveries for both programs are expected in fiscal year 2027.
To support this growing workload, Millennium is focused on two core levers, according to Gingiss: efficiency and capacity.
On the efficiency front, the company, in partnership with Boeing, is integrating more automation into its workflows and establishing common components across product lines to enhance scalability. Additionally, Millennium is reducing the time required for operations ranging from manufacturing to data analysis, further improving productivity.
However, the increased demand from the Foo Fighter project pushed the company to expand its integration capacity. Instead of building a new facility, Millennium announced in April that it would activate 18,000 square feet of adjacent space at its El Segundo, California, facility—located within a Boeing site. This move increases the company’s manufacturing footprint by approximately 30% and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
“When you simultaneously improve efficiency and increase capacity, you ultimately grow your output while reducing the cost per unit of capacity because you’re generating more value for every hour spent,” Gingiss explained.
In addition to planned growth, unanticipated production increases may also arise—especially as the Department of Defense explores programs like Golden Dome and ramps up investment in tactically responsive space initiatives. These could require sudden satellite orders or significant production surges. To stay prepared, Millennium maintains a buffer inventory of high-use parts that are compatible across multiple satellite lines. While not enough to build a complete spacecraft, these parts provide a baseline level of responsiveness.
At the system level, Millennium maintains close communication with customers such as the Space Development Agency (SDA) and Space Systems Command (SSC) to understand their evolving needs, potential variant requests, and the possibility of scaling up orders.
“A lot of it is really about staying in step with the customer, understanding their strategy, and getting clear signals about what those future demands might look like,” said Gingiss.
