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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Northrop Grumman won a competition in July 2024 to build and deploy a proliferated LEO constellation of 14 satellites with infrared sensors for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer.
CONDOR Mk3 offers full compatibility with the Space Development Agency’s interoperability standard.
There is an open solicitation for the first 72 communications satellites of the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 2.
Raytheon competed for SDA Tranche 0 and Tranche 1 contracts in 2020 and 2021 and filed an unsuccessful protest challenging the Tranche 0 decision in 2020.
The $250,000,000 Tracking Layer Tranche 1 award to Raytheon materialized because the Space Development Agency received an unplanned funding boost from Congress in the 2023 budget.
The Space Development Agency was especially interested in a wide-field-of-view infrared sensor that Raytheon developed for DARPA’s Blackjack program under a $37,000,000 contract awarded in 2020.
Raytheon Technologies won a $250,000,000 contract to build seven missile-detection satellites for the U.S. Space Development Agency.
Blue Canyon’s X-SAT Saturn bus could be used for Space Development Agency Tracking Layer satellites or for the Transport Layer of communications satellites.
The seven satellites Raytheon is building will be part of the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer, a low Earth orbit network designed to track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
DARPA decided not to place Raytheon’s wide-field-of-view infrared sensor on its Blackjack satellites, and the sensor will be provided to the Space Development Agency as government-furnished equipment.
Northrop Grumman is under contract with the Space Development Agency to develop and build 14 Tranche 1 Tracking Layer satellites.
Northrop Grumman is under contract with the Space Development Agency to develop and build 42 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites.
The Space Development Agency’s LEO network is designed to communicate vital information quickly and securely to support U.S. troops on the ground.
In August, Maxar was selected by L3Harris to build 14 missile-detection satellites based on the Maxar 300 series for the U.S. Space Development Agency.
Northrop Grumman is building 58 satellites for the Space Development Agency within a period of less than three years.
Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and York Space Systems won Space Development Agency contracts in early 2022 to deliver 42 satellites apiece by 2024 for the SDA Transport Layer Tranche 1.
Northrop Grumman completed a critical design review of a Space Development Agency communications satellite in 13 months.
Northrop Grumman and L3Harris are supplying the Space Development Agency with 14 missile-tracking satellites apiece for Tranche 1.
L3Harris selected the Maxar 300 series as the bus for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking constellation.
The Pentagon budgeted $529,000,000 in 2024 to launch five batches of satellites to low Earth orbit for the Space Development Agency, with an additional 11 SDA missions worth $1,400,000,000 planned for 2025 to 2028.