Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Satellites
Tranche 2 Tracking Layer includes new prime vendor to produce missile warning/missile tracking and missile defense satellites
Date: Jan. 16, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced the award of three prototype agreements to build 54 satellites to establish the Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer, which will proliferate missile warning/missile tracking (MW/MT) infrared sensors as well as fire control-quality infrared sensors for missile defense in support of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
These Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements are awarded to teams led by L3Harris Technologies, Inc. of Melbourne, Florida, Lockheed Martin Corp. of Littleton, Colorado, and Sierra Space of Louisville, Colorado, to each deliver and operate 18 space vehicles as part of the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer constellation, launching no later than April 2027.
“We’re pleased to welcome Sierra Space, a new entrant as a prime vendor on Team SDA, as we continue working with L3Harris and Lockheed Martin on Tranche 2,” said Derek Tournear, SDA director. “The marketplace is responding to the demand signals for our spiral development model. The agile response across the space industry is critically important as we deliver to the warfighter this no-fail mission capability of missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense.”
Each vendor will provide 16 wide field of view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles with infrared sensors and two space vehicles with missile defense infrared sensors that can generate fire control-quality tracks to provide preliminary missile defense mission capabilities. L3Harris Technologies is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $919 million. Lockheed Martin Corporation is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $890 million. Sierra Space is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA with a total potential value of $740 million.
While the kickoff and early execution of these awards will be accomplished under a continuing resolution, planned execution would be disrupted if a full Defense budget is not passed before the end of March.
The T2 Tracking Layer’s 54 satellites will build upon the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer capabilities with a select number of satellite vehicles that will incorporate fire control missile defense infrared sensors that can generate fire control quality tracks to provide preliminary missile defense mission capabilities in support of warfighter missions around the globe. The fire control missile defense sensors build upon the investments made by Missile Defense Agency in the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS) program and novel approaches from industry to accelerate global missile defense capability.
The Tracking Layer is focused on delivering a global constellation of infrared missile warning and missile tracking satellites that integrate with the Transport Layer’s low-latency meshed communication network, enabling advanced missile tracking from proliferated low-Earth orbit. Once completely fielded, the T2 constellation will consist of approximately 270 operational Transport and Tracking Layer satellites.
About the Space Development Agency. As part of the U.S. Space Force, SDA is recognized as DOD’s constructive disruptor for space acquisition. SDA will accelerate delivery of needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. For more information on SDA, contact OSD.SDA.Outreach@mail.mil or visit https://www.sda.mil.
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