"One thing I can say for certain is that with regards to ideas, the more the better. And if you can look across the broad space ecosystem and pull in as many ideas as possible, regardless of the size of the vendor that's promoting that idea, you're going to be more successful at it putting solid innovative ideas on the plate."
U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, during his confirmation hearing for Chief of Space Operations
Space Development Agency, Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement
Posted On: March 4, 2026 Original Date Offers Due: March 3, 2027
SDA has released an updated Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to advance the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). SDA is soliciting executive summaries, invited proposal abstracts, and proposals for novel architecture concepts, systems, technologies, and capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements for future PWSA tranches, enhancements to existing capabilities, or concepts for new capabilities to address emerging or evolving warfighter needs.
SDA seeks architecture studies, concepts of operations (CONOPS), modeling and simulation, system designs, key technologies, and/or risk reduction prototypes that are responsive to the following capability vectors:
- Resilient Beyond Line-of-Sight Tactical Communications (RF, Custody)
- Advanced Target Custody, Warning, Tracking and Defeat
- Advanced/Alternate Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT)
- Global Battle Management
SDA Issues Request for Information for Future Space-To-Air Optical Communication Terminals
Posted On: January 28, 2026 Response Date: February 27, 2026
Space Development Agency (SDA) today published a request for information (RFI) seeking industry solutions for airborne optical communication terminals. This initiative aims to equip aircraft with the ability to connect directly to SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a resilient network of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
This effort builds directly on the success of a landmark demonstration conducted in August 2025. During that test, SDA and its partners proved the viability of space-to-air optical links by establishing a two-way, high-bandwidth connection between a LEO satellite and an airborne test asset in flight. The demonstration achieved stable, high-data-rate transmission, proving that laser communications can provide the bandwidth and security necessary to move mission-critical data to and from airborne platforms.
The RFI seeks information on airborne optical terminal designs, production maturity, and integration pathways. SDA will prioritize technology that can be rapidly demonstrated—within 12 months—and transitioned into operational service.
Responses to this RFI will specifically inform SDA's goal to enable resilient space-to-air optical links as part of the PWSA, with a potential initial operational capability as soon as 2027.
For more information on this RFI and for proposal submission instructions, please visit the link below. Responses are due by 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 27, 2026.