SPEED. DELIVERY. AGILITY.

WHO WE ARE

Speed. Delivery. Agility.

Recognized as the Department of Defense's constructive disruptor for space acquisition, the Space Development Agency (SDA) will quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. SDA capitalizes on a unique business model that values speed and lowers costs by harnessing commercial development to achieve a proliferated architecture and enhance resilience. SDA will deliver a minimum viable product - on time, every two years- by employing spiral development methods, adding capabilities to future generations as the threat evolves.

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

The Custody Layer enables 24/7 all-weather custody of time sensitive targets to support engagement by advanced weapons.

 

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PWSA FUTURES

SDA Futures provides new mission concepts that deliver quantifiable warfighter benefits by maturing and transitioning technologies and capabilities into future tranches.

 

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NAVIGATION LAYER

The Navigation Layer will establish a GPS-independent navigation capability for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) using optical inter-satellite ranging, and optical space to ground links.

 

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GROUND & LAUNCH

SDA's Ground & Launch Layer enables an integrated, resilient ground infrastructure to support a responsive space architecture.

 

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SDA Publishes Request for Proposals for Tranche 3 Program Integration 

Posted On: December 13, 2024 Responses Due: January 31, 2025 The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a final request for proposals for the Tranche 3 Program Integration (T3PI) effort of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This solicitation seeks industry proposals to provide systems engineering and integration activities supporting the T3 program, which will extend…

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Link 16 tactical data link communication via space: ‘A ground-breaking development’

Date: Dec. 6, 2024 | Outlet: FFI Norwegian Foreign Defense Research Establishment | By: FFI Staff Report ‘This is a game-changing capability, and we’re just getting started!’ says Major Tyler Levy at FFI, leader of a test where Norwegian F-35s and P-8s communicated over a Link 16 network via satellites in space. ‘The unique thing…

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SDA Selects Vendor to Deliver Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure

Date: Nov. 12, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced a contract for Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure (AFCGI) to support demonstrations and potential future operations under the agency’s Advanced Fire Control (AFC) effort. The cost-plus award fee contract worth a maximum of approximately $117 million was awarded to Kratos Technology…

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SDA Requests Industry Feedback on Tranche 3 Integration Draft Request for Proposals

Posted On: Nov. 8, 2024 Responses Due: Noon ET, Nov. 25, 2024 The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a draft request for proposals for the Tranche 3 (T3) Integration effort of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This draft RFP seeks industry input ahead of selecting a vendor to provide systems engineering and integration activities…

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SDA Selects Initial HALO Pool to Rapidly Compete Future Prototype Demonstrations

Date: Oct. 23, 2024 Non-traditional space companies form the initial pool of 19 offerors WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced it has selected 19 non-traditional space companies to join the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit, or HALO, pool, an acquisition approach to solicit and rapidly award protype demonstrations and…

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SDA Posts Tranche 3 Industry Planning Notice

Posted On: October 2, 2024 The Space Development Agency (SDA) released a planning notice for Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This top-level solicitation timeline allows industry to plan to compete for upcoming acquisitions, in addition to supporting improved and more focused proposal responses. SDA’s Tranche 3 programs will provide sustained capability…

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SDA Makes Commercial Disposal Services Study Awards Under STEC BAA

Date: Sept. 26, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Space Development Agency (SDA) announced today it recently selected six proposals for funding under the Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities (STEC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). SDA awarded a total of approximately $1.9 million in both contracts and agreements to the following companies to conduct 90-day feasibility studies…

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SDA demos laser links crucial for future SATCOM, missile tracking network

Date: September 4, 2024 | Outlet: Breaking Defense | By: Theresa Hitchens WASHINGTON — Space Development Agency (SDA) Director Derek Tournear announced today that the agency has successfully demonstrated the ability of its optical communications terminals to link satellites together — a capability that he has acknowledged as the longest pole in the tent for its planned mesh network…

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SDA blue horizontal logo

SDA Makes Awards to Build 20 Gamma Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer

Date: Aug. 16, 2024 New prime entrant joins next round of Tranche 2 team members to produce variants of data relay and tactical communication space vehicles WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced the awards of two prototype agreements with a total value of approximately $424 million to build and operate 20…

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Lockheed Martin’s SPD Center. Image: Lockheed Martin

SDA Is Strengthening Space Industrial Base, Execs Say

Date: May 3, 2024 | Outlet: Payload | By: Jacqueline Feldscher A five-year-old agency within the Pentagon founded with a mandate to move quickly is stimulating investments that make the entire small sat industrial base more resilient and scalable, according to half a dozen top industry execs.  While the Pentagon is known for delayed timelines…

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