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.
On 2021-09-20, the Space Development Agency approved L3Harris Technologies’ proposed design for a missile-tracking satellite.
The Space Development Agency plans to launch the first batch of missile-tracking satellites in 2023.
In October, the Defense Department’s Space Development Agency selected L3Harris and SpaceX to each produce four missile-tracking satellites.
The missile-tracking satellites selected by the Space Development Agency will be part of a larger constellation of space-based infrared sensors to detect and track hypersonic and ballistic missiles from low Earth orbit.
Lockheed Martin won a $188,000,000 contract from the Space Development Agency in 2020 following demonstration of technologies validated by the Pony Express experiment.
L3Harris is producing four missile-tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency under a $193,500,000 contract won in October.
The Space Development Agency awarded L3Harris a tracking layer prototype program contract to develop and integrate an end-to-end satellite system in October 2020.
The Space Development Agency requires satellite vendors to have interoperable optical inter-satellite links.
Technology developed in the Blackjack program is supporting the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency’s effort to build a large network of communications and missile-warning satellites in low Earth orbit.
The Space Development Agency plans to launch its first constellation of 28 communications and missile-detection satellites in low Earth orbit next year.
L3Harris and SpaceX won contracts to provide four satellites each for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer for missile detection and tracking.
The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency released a request for proposals on 2021-08-30 to procure satellite manufacturers to build as many as 144 satellites.
The Space Development Agency is seeking responses to a Request for Proposal to help build the Tranche 1 Transport Layer.
Proposals for Transport Layer Tranche 1 are due in October and the Space Development Agency expects to award contracts in January.
Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems were selected in 2023 to provide 10 satellites each for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 0.
The Space Development Agency expects to make multiple awards from the Tranche 1 Transport Layer solicitation.
The satellites will constitute the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer Tranche 1 mesh network of communications satellites in low Earth orbit projected to start launching in late 2024.
The Space Development Agency expects to issue contracts early 2022 for Tranche 1, a constellation comprising a Transport Layer of data-relay satellites and a Tracking Layer of sensor satellites to detect and track missiles.
The Space Development Agency is about to issue a solicitation for 144 smallsats that it aims to launch in 2024.
Mynaric anticipates the CONDOR Mk3 will comply with standards for up to 150 operational satellites that the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency plans to order early next year.