Polaris Intelligence
Polaris
Intelligence
About
Ctrl K
Sign in
© Polaris Intelligence 2026
PrivacyTermsAdmin

U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)

US

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.

gov defenseFounded 2019
United States
www.sda.mil/
Admin Edit
0.0-5.0

All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The Space Development Agency plans to launch the T1DES space vehicles with the Tranche 1 Tracking space vehicles on four launches procured through the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Oct 7, 2022SDA awards York Space Systems million$$$ for Tranche 1 demo + experimentation system

The Space Development Agency awarded York Space Systems a contract worth up to $200,000,000 to build and operate 12 satellites with experimental military communications payloads.

RelationshipsFinancialCapabilityPlanValue 5.0Oct 6, 2022York Space wins $200 million Space Development Agency contract for 12 satellites

The Space Development Agency ordered 126 satellites in February for its Tranche 1 Transport Layer mesh network projected to start launching in 2024.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Oct 6, 2022York Space wins $200 million Space Development Agency contract for 12 satellites

York Space Systems was selected to provide spacecraft for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency Transport Layer Tranche 0 and Tranche 1.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.2Oct 4, 2022AEI claims majority stake in York Space Systems

The Space Development Agency selected the NExT payloads but did not disclose specifics on the missions they will perform.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 3.0Oct 4, 2022Ball Aerospace wins $176 million contract to build and operate 10 satellites for Space Development Agency

The Space Development Agency awarded a firm-fixed-price Other Transaction prototype agreement to Ball Aerospace of Broomfield, Colorado with a total potential value of approximately $176,000,000.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 5.0Oct 4, 2022SDA awards prototype agreement to Ball Aerospace to establish NExT

The Space Development Agency awarded Ball Aerospace a $176,000,000 contract on 2022-10-04 to build, operate, and secure launch services for 10 experimental satellites.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 5.0Oct 4, 2022Ball Aerospace wins $176 million contract to build and operate 10 satellites for Space Development Agency

The Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer is a low Earth orbit mesh network of optically interconnected satellites that will send and receive wideband data to and from ground stations and mobile users.

CapabilityValue 4.0Oct 3, 2022Viasat sells tactical data communications business to L3Harris for $1.96 billion

Redwire is under contract to produce 42 Link 16 antennas for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Oct 3, 2022Viasat sells tactical data communications business to L3Harris for $1.96 billion

Mike Griffin held the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering when the Space Development Agency was established in March 2019.

GovernanceValue 3.2Oct 1, 2022Space Development Agency is now officially part of the Space Force

When the Space Development Agency was established in March 2019, it was placed under the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.

GovernanceValue 2.1Oct 1, 2022Space Development Agency is now officially part of the Space Force

L3Harris works with multiple satellite bus suppliers and selected Maxar for the Space Development Agency bid following a competitive evaluation.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.2Sep 21, 2022L3Harris’ missile-tracking satellites will use a newly designed Maxar bus

L3Harris and Northrop Grumman were selected by the U.S. Space Development Agency to each produce 14 missile-tracking satellites for the Tracking Layer Tranche 1.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Sep 21, 2022L3Harris’ missile-tracking satellites will use a newly designed Maxar bus

The 14 L3Harris satellites will be part of a missile-detecting and tracking network being developed by the U.S. Space Development Agency.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Sep 21, 2022L3Harris’ missile-tracking satellites will use a newly designed Maxar bus

The Space Development Agency recently ordered 28 missile-tracking satellites for about $1,400,000,000.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 4.8Sep 21, 2022DoD to end procurements of geosynchronous missile-warning satellites

Under a $700,000,000 contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency, L3Harris will build 14 satellites using a new Maxar bus.

RelationshipsFinancialCapabilityPlanValue 5.0Sep 21, 2022L3Harris’ missile-tracking satellites will use a newly designed Maxar bus

L3Harris has been building four missile-tracking infrared satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 0 under a contract awarded in 2020 using Moog buses.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.5Sep 21, 2022L3Harris’ missile-tracking satellites will use a newly designed Maxar bus

The Department of Defense created the Space Development Agency in 2019 to field a missile-tracking network using large numbers of smaller, cheaper satellites in lower orbits.

GeneralPlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 16, 2022New tri-agency office to coordinate U.S. missile-defense space programs

Tesat-Spacecom completed the Preliminary Design Review of its Optical Communication Terminals for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 15, 2022TESAT completes the PDR of their optical comms terminal for SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer

The Space Development Agency selected the motto 'semper citius' to emphasize delivering good-enough capabilities faster.

GeneralValue 2.0Sep 14, 2022Space Development Agency’s first launch slips due to supply chain setbacks
Page65of110
Track