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’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture LEO constellation is intended to provide persistent worldwide real-time missile detection and tracking capabilities.
Lockheed Martin Space holds a contract to deliver 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Program.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems was awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin Space to deliver missile warning, tracking, and defense payloads to support Lockheed Martin Space’s contract to deliver 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Program.
The satellites will be launched into low Earth orbit to be incorporated into the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture LEO constellation.
The Space Development Agency’s fiscal year 2025 budget includes $1,700,000,000 to continue development of SDA’s satellite architecture.
Lockheed Martin Space has a contract award to deliver 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Program.
The Lockheed Martin Space satellites carrying GA-EMS payloads will be launched into low Earth orbit to be incorporated into the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture LEO constellation.
Maxar Space Systems has been selected by L3Harris Technologies to design and produce eighteen Maxar 300 spacecraft platforms and provide associated support for the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program with the Space Development Agency.
The Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture LEO constellation is intended to provide persistent worldwide real-time missile detection and tracking capabilities.
The Tranche 2 Tracking Layer will enhance the Space Development Agency’s capability to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, and tracking of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) was awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin Space to deliver missile warning, tracking, and defense payloads to support Lockheed Martin Space’s contract to deliver 18 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Program.
The Tranche 2 Tracking Layer will enhance the Space Development Agency’s capability to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, and tracking of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.
On 2024-03-07, L3Harris Technologies selected Maxar Space Systems to design and produce eighteen Maxar 300 spacecraft platforms and provide associated support for its Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program with the Space Development Agency.
Terran Orbital’s Ambassador platform is similar to the platforms provided for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites being delivered by Lockheed Martin.
Terran Orbital’s Ambassador platforms are based on its commercial off-the-shelf Ambassador platform used for Space Development Agency Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites delivered by Lockheed Martin.
The Ambassador platforms for the Terran Orbital contract are similar to those provided for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites produced by Lockheed Martin.
The Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer and the Space Force’s Epoch 1 MEO satellites are focused primarily on tracking with some limited missile-warning capability.
Lightning is based on the same design as the custom spacecraft Rocket Lab developed for MDA and Globalstar and serves as the basis for Rocket Lab’s bus for the Space Development Agency.
Lockheed Martin has acquired Terran Orbital spacecraft buses for several of its programs, including spacecraft for Space Development Agency constellation programs.
Lightning is a larger Rocket Lab bus based on buses the company is developing for Globalstar and the Space Development Agency.