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.
Mynaric’s CONDOR terminals were previously selected by Northrop Grumman for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer program.
Raytheon Technologies is building the seven missile-tracking satellites under a $250,000,000 contract from the Space Development Agency.
Lockheed Martin contracted Terran Orbital to build 42 satellites supporting the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1.
The seven Raytheon-made satellites are part of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer, a network of 35 satellites.
The Space Development Agency plans to build a proliferated low Earth orbit network of data-transport satellites and a constellation of infrared sensor satellites to provide a defense shield against Russian and Chinese ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
The Space Development Agency received initial images on 2023-06-14 from its first missile-warning satellites that launched 2023-04-02 to low Earth orbit.
The AESA terminal will connect drones to the future military constellation operated by the Space Force's Space Development Agency, known as the Transport Layer LEO communications network.
The U.S. Space Force is collaborating with the Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency under the Chief of Space Operations to develop a unified Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Enterprise solution for missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense.
Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) was selected by the Space Development Agency for a $64,000,000 award to develop, implement, and maintain the Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) Application Factory for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
The Space Development Agency is procuring a mesh network of satellites called the Transport Layer to move data to users around the world.
BMC3 is the on-orbit data processing and computing system for the Transport Layer of communications satellites that the Space Development Agency plans to deploy over the next several years.
The Space Development Agency is building a large constellation of communications and missile-tracking sensor satellites that will be launched in batches.
SpaceX was assigned five Space Development Agency launches to low Earth orbit and the U.S. Space Force classified mission USSF-31.
The Space Development Agency awarded a $64,000,000 contract to Science Applications International Corp. to develop a software applications factory for the agency’s low Earth orbit constellation.
MDA was awarded a contract from L3Harris Technologies as part of the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) was awarded six NSSL missions: SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer T1TL-B, SDA T1TL-C, SDA T1TL-D, SDA T1TL-E, SDA T1TR-C, and USSF-31.
The Government Accountability Office estimated that the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1 with 138 satellites will cost about $3,300,000,000.
SpaceX launched a mission in April for the Space Development Agency that was purchased as a commercial launch contract rather than under NSSL Phase 2.
The contract dated 2023-06-08 is for the Space Development Agency’s BMC3 application factory, short for Battle Management Command, Control and Communications.
The Space Development Agency requires the contractor to establish software development capabilities to securely and rapidly field mission applications developed by BMC3 ecosystem participants in support of Joint All Domain Command and Control objectives.