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 Releases Broad Agency Announcement for Participation in DoD’s SBIR/STTR Program

Original Response Date: Sept. 30, 2021

SDA release a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to launch its participation in DoD’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.

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SDA Awards Contract for Integration of Tranche 0

SDA announced October 22 a task order against an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for integration of the first generation, Tranche 0, of the National Defense Space Architecture. The performer will provide overall technical leadership for integrating space and ground elements for Tranche 0, the Warfighter Immersion Tranche. The performer will also execute on-orbit tests and experiments that culminate in a Capstone event, expected in FY23, which demonstrates potential capabilities to the Warfighter.

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Mission Assurance: NRL Space Research Group to Validate SDA Satellite Interoperability

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research group will use its background in space system development to help ensure future satellites have the capability to work together.

Announced Aug. 31, NRL’s work supports the Space Development Agency’s two multi-million dollar contract awards for the development of the first generation of the Transport Layer, representing the first major and highly-visible step toward developing the National Defense Space Architecture’s inaugural tranche, entitled Tranche Zero.

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SDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Tracking Layer

Date: October 5, 2020 SDA announced October 5 two contract awards for the first generation of the Tracking Layer. These awards represent the next major and highly visible steps toward developing the National Defense Space Architecture’s inaugural tranche (called Tranche 0). Once fully operational, the SDA Tracking Layer will consist of a proliferated heterogeneous constellation…

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Space Development Agency Praised as Change Agent in Pentagon Procurement

Date: September 17, 2020 | Outlet: Space News | By: Sandra Erwin Telesat’s Don Brown: “The core challenge of the national security space architecture is not really engineering, it’s really culture and acquisition.” WASHINGTON — “We couldn’t believe they went so fast,” Telesat executive Don Brown said of the Space Development Agency’s first major contract…

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Agency Awards Contracts to Enable Data Transfer From Space

DATE: September 1, 2020 | Outlet: DoD News | By: DAVID VERGUN The Space Development Agency announced yesterday the award of two contracts for what’s known as the first generation of the transport layer, the acting deputy undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, and director of defense research and engineering for modernization said. These…

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SDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Transport Layer

Date: August 31, 2020 SDA announced August 31 two contract awards for the first generation of the Transport Layer. These awards represent one of the first major and highly visible steps toward developing the National Defense Space Architecture’s inaugural tranche (called Tranche 0). This set of contract awards will initiate the design, development, and launch…

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Military Aims to Urgently Provide Disruptive Satellite Capabilities

Date: August 1, 2020 | Outlet: AFCEA – Signal Magazine | By: Kimberly Underwood The year-old Space Development Agency emphasizes speed in pursuing innovative space capabilities. The threats to the U.S. military and the nation are such that additional space-based capabilities must be rapidly fielded. A proliferated low-earth-orbit constellation of satellites and sensors will connect…

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Space Development Agency Director Announced

Date: October. 28, 2019 The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the selection of Dr. Derek Tournear as the first permanent director of the Space Development Agency.  Established in March, the Space Development Agency is responsible for unifying and integrating the Department’s space development efforts, monitoring the Department’s threat-driven future space architecture, and accelerating fielding…

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