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.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has been selected by the Space Development Agency to design and build 18 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Satellites (T2TL – Beta).
The Space Development Agency awarded Rocket Lab a $515,000,000 contract to build and operate 18 spacecraft that will be part of a low Earth orbit network of military satellites.
The Space Development Agency is an organization under the U.S. Space Force building a mesh network of military satellites known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman were selected in 2024 to produce 72 Beta satellites for the Space Development Agency.
Rocket Lab was selected by the Space Development Agency to design and build 18 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Satellites (T2TL-Beta).
The contract with the Space Development Agency has a base value of $489,000,000 plus $26,000,000 in incentives and options.
The satellite buses for the Space Development Agency will be a derivative of the buses Rocket Lab is developing for the communications company Globalstar.
Four of the USSF-124 satellites are missile-tracking sensors manufactured by L3Harris for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer constellation.
The Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer is envisioned as a global network of sensors to provide a defense shield against Russian and Chinese ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Four L3Harris Transport Layer satellites were originally scheduled to launch in September with other Space Development Agency satellites but were removed from the launch manifest due to production delays.
In August, the Space Development Agency awarded $1,500,000,000 in contracts to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for 72 Transport Layer Tranche 2 Beta satellites.
Space Development Agency planned to add another 18 Beta satellites and was negotiating with a third vendor to do so.
Rocket Lab won two contracts in 2022 worth $14,000,000 to provide separation systems for Space Development Agency satellites.
The 2022 separation-system contracts cover systems for 84 satellites made by Lockheed Martin and another undisclosed manufacturer supplying satellites to the Space Development Agency.
L3Harris completed the Production Readiness Review for 16 missile-tracking satellites that will be part of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TRK) program.
The Production Readiness Review provides the Space Development Agency with approval for L3Harris to begin the full production process for the 16 T1TRK satellites.
L3Harris completed the Critical Design Review for 16 missile-tracking satellites that will be part of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TRK) program.
Kepler Communications’ space relay network is designed to be Space Development Agency–compatible and to provide low-latency, high-throughput on-orbit data relay services.
L3Harris received Space Development Agency approval on 2023-12-20 to move into production on 16 satellites designed to detect and monitor hypersonic missiles aimed at the United States or its allies.
L3Harris’ infrared and data processing technology plays a mission-critical role on several United States missile warning and defense satellite programs, including the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TRK) program.