The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) is a U.S. Space Force direct-reporting unit focused on the rapid deployment of space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter. It aims to achieve this through the development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a threat-driven constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit. SDA's key focus areas include military data and communications connectivity, missile tracking, and development of a resilient space architecture, working with partners like Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and York Space Systems. Their work supports terrestrial missions and enhances warfighter lethality, maneuverability, and survivability.
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The Space Development Agency will seek to demonstrate advanced space-based sensors designed to track and destroy hypersonic missile threats.
The program in question is a contract to provide 42 satellite buses for Lockheed Martin under the Transport Layer Tranche 1 contract with the Space Development Agency.
Terran Orbital took a $13,000,000 charge in the first quarter of 2024 related to problems with a supplier delivering propulsion systems for a Space Development Agency program.
Lockheed Martin will provide the Space Development Agency with two missile defense space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors that can generate fire control-quality tracks.
Lockheed Martin will use the 18 satellite buses to produce 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer contract.
Lockheed Martin announced in January that it planned to use Terran Orbital’s satellite buses after winning an $890,000,000 contract to produce 18 missile warning and missile tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency.
Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) has been selected by Lockheed Martin to produce 18 satellite buses for Lockheed Martin’s Space Development Agency Tranche 2 Tracking Layer contract.
Lockheed Martin will provide the Space Development Agency with 16 wide field-of-view missile warning and missile tracking space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors.
Rocket Lab selected CesiumAstro to provide its Vireo active electronically scanned array radio frequency communications payload for integration on 18 space vehicles supporting the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer.
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) has a contract from Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKLB) to provide antennas and RF hardware for the Space Development Agency Transport Layer Tranche 2 Beta variant satellites.
Redwire was selected to provide RF hardware and antennas for SDA Tranche 1 satellites.
The Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture is a layered low-Earth orbit satellite constellation designed to deliver secure, low-latency communications and missile tracking capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense.
CesiumAstro was selected by Rocket Lab to provide its Vireo active electronically scanned array radio frequency communications payload for integration on 18 space vehicles supporting the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer.
Rocket Lab is the prime contractor on a $515,000,000 firm-fixed-price agreement to lead the design, development, production, test, and operations of 18 satellites for SDA’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta (T2TL - Beta).
Redwire was selected to provide RF hardware and antennas for SDA Transport Layer Tranche 1 satellites.
Rocket Lab is manufacturing 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency under a $515,000,000 contract.
Mynaric will supply the optical communications terminals for Rocket Lab’s Space Development Agency satellites.
Parsons will supply the ground system for managing operations of the 18 Space Development Agency satellites.
The 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency will be part of Transport Layer Tranche 2 Beta, projected to launch in mid-2027.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed selection of subcontractors to provide payloads and ground systems for the 18 satellites the company is developing for the Space Development Agency (SDA).