The Pentagon is considering creating the first constellation of military satellites to operate in orbital space, as well as between the Earth and the Moon.
The United States has already asked manufacturers for proposals to create five devices, each of which is supposed to carry up to 2,000 kg of "special equipment".
Their first launch is planned for the end of 2029, and the start of operations in 2031.
In the future, these satellites could become the basis for a larger constellation designed for a permanent military presence beyond low Earth orbit.
According to the requirements, the satellites must operate for at least three years, perform tasks independently for up to 72 hours without communication with the Earth, and change orbits using their engines.
The devices must also support flights to the Lagrange points, including areas about 1.5 million km from Earth.
The payload's exact purpose is classified, but likely missions include tracking space objects, reconnaissance, secure communications, and cislunar space navigation.