SDA issues Solicitation for Tranche 2 Transport Layer- Alpha Variant Space Vehicles

Response Date: July 28, 2023

SDA seeks industry proposals for one of several types of Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) space vehicles—T2TL Alpha. This solicitation, posted June 28, 2023, expands upon the foundation for Tranche 2 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) previously described in the T2TL Beta solicitation.

SDA expects to procure approximately 100 T2TL- Alpha space vehicles divided into two sub-constellations – T2TL-Alpha-Low comprised of four (4) lowly inclined orbital planes of 19 SVs, and T2TL-Alpha-High comprised of six (6) highly inclined orbital planes of four (4) SVs. The Alpha variant will share certain common characteristics with the other T2TL variants (Beta and Gamma). Baseline payloads and subsystems on all T2TL satellites include:

• Three optical communication terminals (OCTs) 
• K_a-band mission payload 
• Networking and data routing subsystem 
• Navigation subsystem 
• S-band backup telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) subsystem 

T2TL-Alpha space vehicles specifically will include the following additional payloads/capabilities:

• Fourth OCT 
• Link 16 mission payload 
• Battle Management, Command, Control, and Communications (BMC3) module 
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Situational Awareness (SA) capability within navigation subsystem

T2TL features multiple space vehicle and mission configuration variants procured through a multi-solicitation and multi-vendor acquisition approach. The initial launch capability is scheduled for September 2026.

Please view the full solicitation at the link below for additional information and proposal submission instructions. Responses are due by July 28, 2023.