MODERNIZING THE MILITARY'S SPACE ARCHITECTURE

WHO WE ARE

The Space Development Agency orchestrates the development and fielding of DoD’s future threat-driven National Defense Space Architecture. SDA uses novel approaches to accelerate the military space capabilities necessary to ensure U.S. technological and military advantage in space for national defense.

CAPABILITY LAYERS

TRANSPORT LAYER

SDA's Transport Layer will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and communications connectivity worldwide to a full range of warfighter platforms.

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BATTLE MANAGEMENT LAYER

SDA's Battle Management Layer will provide architecture tasking, mission command and control, and data dissemination to support time-sensitive kill chain closure at campaign scales.

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TRACKING LAYER

SDA's Tracking Layer will provide global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.

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CUSTODY LAYER

SDA’s Custody Layer will provide 24/7, all-weather custody of time-sensitive, left-of-launch surface mobile targets to support targeting for advanced weapons.

 

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EMERGING CAPABILITIES (DETERRENCE) LAYER

SDA's Emerging Capabilities Layer will incubate new mission concepts. Initial focus will be to deter hostile action in deep space (beyond Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) up to lunar distances).

 

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NAVIGATION LAYER

SDA's Navigation Layer will provide alternate positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) for Global Positioning System (GPS)-denied environments.

 

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SUPPORT LAYER

SDA's Support Layer will enable ground and launch segments to support a responsive space architecture.

 

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SDA posts DRAFT Solicitation Seeking Feedback on Potential Tranche 1 Tracking Layer

Original Response Date: January 7, 2022 SDA has released a DRAFT solicitation for a potential Tracking Layer for Tranche 1 of the National Defense Space Architecture. The draft solicitation provides an opportunity for industry to review and offer feedback in advance of final posting. SDA is considering an “other transactions” (OT) prototyping effort to accelerate…

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SDA to Provide Virtual Industry Presentation (CUI level) on Tranche 1 Operations and Integration

Requests Due By: December 7, 2021 SDA will deliver a CUI-level virtual industry presentation on Friday, December 10, 2021. This presentation will focus on the anticipated solicitation for the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) Tranche 1 Operations & Integration.  SDA will also offer one-on-one meetings by request with companies intending to propose as prime contractors (up to 18 meetings will be accommodated). Below…

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SDA Posts DRAFT RFP Seeking Industry Feedback on Tranche 1 Ground Operations and Integration

Original Response Date: December 1, 2021 The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks input on a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish the ground operations and integration segment for Tranche 1 (T1), the Initial Warfighting Capability Tranche, of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA). The scope of this RFP is for the T1 Operations and…

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SDA issues Solicitation under Other Transaction Authorities in Support of Tranche 1 Transport Layer

Original Response Date: November 24, 2021 at Noon EDT The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks responses to help build the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL). T1TL is a mesh network of over one hundred optically interconnected satellites that provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport communication system. T1TL will provide global communications access and deliver…

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SDA Posts DRAFT RFP Seeking Industry Feedback on Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES)

Original Response Date: November 8, 2021 The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks input on a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) to augment the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) constellation with demonstration and experimental capability. The Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) leverages the low latency data transfer and beyond line of sight command and…

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SDA Posts RFP Seeking Proposals in Support of Tranche 1 Transport Layer

Updated Response Date: October 8, 2021 The Space Development Agency (SDA) seeks responses to their Request for Proposal (RFP) to help build the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL). T1TL is a mesh network of over one hundred optically interconnected satellites that provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport communication system. T1TL will provide global communications…

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Space Development Agency launches experimental infrared sensor into orbit

Date: August 11, 2021 | Outlet: Defense News | By: Nathan Strout WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency launched another experimental satellite Aug. 10 as it tries to reduce risk for its first satellites on orbit, set to begin launch in fall 2022. Carried into orbit aboard the Cygnus NG-16 spacecraft during its Commercial Resupply…

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SDA Releases New Small Business Opportunities for Commercial SAR and Scatterometry (COSAS)

Original Response Date: August 26, 2021 SDA is issuing new Small Business Opportunities (SBO) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, inviting submissions of innovative research concepts supporting the advancement of our national defense space capabilities. This SBO pertains to Space Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM). This project looks…

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SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) VIRTUAL Industry Day

The Space Development Agency (SDA) hosted a VIRTUAL Industry Day on Thursday, August 26, 2021. This Industry Day focused on the anticipated solicitation for National Defense Space Architecture’s (NDSA) Tranche 1 (T1) Transport capability to support a high-end regional conflict. Please see the links below for additional information and industry day content.

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SDA Releases DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) for Transport Layer Tranche 1

Original Response Date: July 30, 2021 SDA released a draft solicitation for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) space segment which establishes the foundation for the National Defense Space Architecture’s initial warfighting capability. With up to 144 space vehicles spanning six planes in low earth orbit, T1TL will provide global communications access with regional persistence…

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