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.
Telesat is a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin for the Space Development Agency program and will provide technical advice to Lockheed Martin on the use of optical crosslinks to connect satellites on orbit.
The Space Development Agency is a U.S. Department of Defense agency charged with transforming the military’s approach to developing and acquiring space systems.
The U.S. Space Development Agency has contracts with York Space Systems and Lockheed Martin for each company to build 10 low-Earth-orbit communications satellites equipped with optical intersatellite links.
Lockheed Martin won a $187,500,000 contract from the Space Development Agency for Transport Layer Tranche 0 satellites.
The Space Development Agency plans to deploy hundreds more Transport Layer satellites beyond the initial 20.
The Space Development Agency selected Lockheed Martin for the Transport Layer contract because the agency assessed that Lockheed Martin provided higher overall value despite higher cost.
Lockheed Martin will build 10 satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency using small buses from Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.
York Space Systems was selected by the Space Development Agency to produce 10 satellites for the Transport Layer Tranche 0 mesh network in low Earth orbit.
The Space Development Agency is buying 20 satellites to launch in 2022 for Transport Layer Tranche 0.
The Space Development Agency awarded the first major contracts for a Transport Layer Tranche 0 constellation of communications satellites on 2020-08-31.
Space Development Agency satellites for Transport Layer Tranche 0 are vendor-neutral and must interoperate regardless of who builds them.
The Space Development Agency was stood up in 2019 as a separate agency with a mandate to build space systems for the military faster than traditional Pentagon procurements.
The Space Development Agency requested firm fixed price bids for Transport Layer Tranche 0.
The Space Development Agency plans to buy and deploy hundreds of satellites over the next several years.
The Space Development Agency is developing a network of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for military forces in the field.
The Space Development Agency seeks to create a stable market that will allow companies to bid for new contracts every two years.
Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin pushed to delay the transfer of the Space Development Agency until it completed its first constellation of low-orbiting satellites planned for 2022.
Congress directed the Department of Defense to transfer the Space Development Agency to the Space Force by October 2022.
The Space Development Agency was established by the Department of Defense in March 2019 under the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.
The Space Development Agency plans to build and launch hundreds of satellites to provide high-speed communications and missile detection capabilities for the U.S. military.