SDA awards contracts for 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites in missile defense push

Written by Copernical Team Saturday, 20 January 2024 05:03

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Washington DC (SPX) Jan 18, 2024

The Space Development Agency (SDA), in a significant move to enhance the United States' missile defense capabilities, has announced the award of three prototype agreements for the construction of 54 satellites. These satellites will form the Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer, a key component of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), designed to improve missile warning, tracking, and

SDA awards contracts for 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites in missile defense push
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 18, 2024

The Space Development Agency (SDA), in a significant move to enhance the United States' missile defense capabilities, has announced the award of three prototype agreements for the construction of 54 satellites. These satellites will form the Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer, a key component of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), designed to improve missile warning, tracking, and defense.

This notable step involves contracts awarded to three leading aerospace firms: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LHX) of Melbourne, Florida, Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) of Littleton, Colorado, and Sierra Space of Louisville, Colorado. Each company is tasked with delivering and operating 18 space vehicles, with the launch deadline set for no later than April 2027.

SDA Director Derek Tournear expressed enthusiasm about the project's progression, particularly highlighting the addition of Sierra Space to the team. "We're pleased to welcome Sierra Space, a new entrant as a prime vendor on Team SDA, as we continue working with L3Harris and Lockheed Martin on Tranche 2," Tournear said. He emphasized the importance of the industry's agile response in meeting the demands of this mission, which he described as critical for providing missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities to the warfighter.

Under these agreements, each contractor will supply 16 wide field of view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors, along with two space vehicles carrying missile defense infrared sensors capable of generating fire control-quality tracks. These tracks are vital for preliminary missile defense mission capabilities. The financial details of these contracts reveal the significant investment in this defense initiative: L3Harris Technologies is set to receive a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement worth up to $919 million, Lockheed Martin Corporation is awarded a similar agreement valued at $890 million, and Sierra Space's contract totals $740 million.

The initial phases of these projects will proceed under a continuing resolution. However, there is a note of caution: full execution of these plans hinges on the passage of a complete Defense budget before the end of March, highlighting the interconnectedness of defense initiatives and governmental budgetary processes.

The Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites are an extension of the capabilities established by the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer. A unique aspect of these new satellites is the inclusion of fire control missile defense infrared sensors. These advanced sensors are designed to generate fire control quality tracks, thereby enhancing preliminary missile defense capabilities for global warfighter missions. This advancement builds upon the Missile Defense Agency's investments in the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS) program and incorporates novel industry approaches to bolster global missile defense.

A key feature of the Tracking Layer is its integration with the Transport Layer's low-latency meshed communication network. This integration facilitates a global constellation of infrared missile warning and missile tracking satellites, operating from proliferated low-Earth orbit. The complete T2 constellation, once fully deployed, is expected to consist of approximately 270 operational Transport and Tracking Layer satellites.