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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Four infrared satellites from the launch will support the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer to demonstrate global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles.
The USSF-124 mission launched the four remaining Tranche 0 satellites of the Space Development Agency’s proliferated satellite architecture.
Four Wide-Field-of-View missile tracking satellites built by L3 Harris were carried for the Tracking Layer of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 constellation.
Space Development Agency Tranche 0 satellites use wide-field-of-view sensors designed to detect the heat signature of a missile launch.
The Space Development Agency is building the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, which includes a transport layer and a missile-tracking sensor layer.
The four L3Harris satellites on USSF-124 are part of the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 0 demonstration constellation.
L3Harris currently has a backlog of 50 satellites on order, including 34 satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranches 1 and 2.
The Space Development Agency launched 23 other Tranche 0 satellites in April and December of the previous year.
The Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 2 satellites are part of a proliferated warfighting space architecture intended to counter hypersonic and advanced missile threats.
GEOST has been awarded the opportunity to provide mission payloads as a subcontractor under prime awardee Sierra Space for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 2 program.
GEOST will deliver mission processing solutions integrated with its Mercury and Phoenix payloads for the SDA Tracking Layer Tranche 2 satellites.
GEOST is a subcontractor under prime awardee Sierra Space for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 2 missile warning and tracking satellites.
Space Development Agency awarded a contract to General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to demonstrate Optical Communication Terminals hosted on GA-EMS GA-75 spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
The Space Development Agency awarded Momentus a contract modification valued at $1,196,404 to continue development of the Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle for Department of Defense mission requirements.
GA-EMS is designing and building two Optical Communication Terminals to provide robust space-to-space communication in a degraded environment and to establish and maintain links that meet Space Development Agency standards and requirements.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems was awarded a contract from the Space Development Agency to demonstrate the capabilities of the company’s Optical Communication Terminals hosted on GA-EMS’ GA-75 spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit.
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense is providing 58 upgraded Arrow450 satellites out of AOS for Northrop Grumman for the Space Development Agency Tranche 1 tracking and transport layers.
Northrop Grumman won a contract in 2022 to provide some satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 1.
The Space Development Agency awarded contracts on 2024-01-16 to L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, and Sierra Space for the Tracking Layer Tranche 2 constellation with a combined value of about $2,500,000,000.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) was awarded a contract by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to demonstrate Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) in low Earth orbit (LEO).