{"id":9660,"date":"2025-12-20T17:02:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T09:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/space-development-agency-awards-roughly-3-5-billion-to-4-companies-for-72-missile-tracking-and-warning-satellites\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T17:02:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T09:02:46","slug":"space-development-agency-awards-roughly-3-5-billion-to-4-companies-for-72-missile-tracking-and-warning-satellites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/space-development-agency-awards-roughly-3-5-billion-to-4-companies-for-72-missile-tracking-and-warning-satellites\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Development Agency awards roughly $3.5 billion to 4 companies for 72 missile tracking and warning satellites"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_71940\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-71940\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71940\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_rocket-lab-lightning-spacecraft.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_rocket-lab-lightning-spacecraft.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_rocket-lab-lightning-spacecraft-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-71940\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An artist\u2019s rendering of Rocket Lab\u2019s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) program satellites, which are built on its Lightning satellite platform. Image: Rocket Lab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The U.S. Space Force\u2019s Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded roughly $3.5 billion to four companies to begin building out the third generation of its low Earth orbit constellation.<\/p>\n<p>The SDA issued firm fixed-priced Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements with L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Rocket Lab to build a total of 72 satellites for the Tacking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) constellation in low Earth orbit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Tracking Layer of Tranche 3, once integrated with the PWSA Transport Layer, will significantly increase the coverage and accuracy needed to close kill chains against advanced adversary threats,\u201d said SDA Acting Director Gurpartap \u2018GP\u2019 Sandhoo. \u201cThe constellation will include a mix of missile warning and missile tracking, with half the constellation\u2019s payloads supporting advanced missile defense missions to pace evolving threats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The satellites, which are slated to begin launching in fiscal year 2029 cover two types of sensing capabilities: missile warning\/missile tracking (MW\/MT) infrared (IR) sensors and missile warning, tracking, and defense (MWTD) sensors.<\/p>\n<p>Each of the four companies will build 18 satellites. Here\u2019s the breakdown of funds going to each company and which satellites they will build:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lockheed Martin \u2013 $1.1 billion for 18 MWTD space vehicles (SVs)<\/li>\n<li>L3Harris Technologies \u2013 $843 million for 18 MW\/MT SVs<\/li>\n<li>Rocket Lab \u2013 $805 million for 18 MWTD SVs<\/li>\n<li>Northrop Grumman \u2013 $764 million for 18 MW\/MT SVs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThe addition of these satellites will achieve near-continuous global coverage for missile warning and tracking, along with payloads capable of generating fire control quality tracks for missile defense,\u201d Sandhoo said. \u201cThis is a prime example of spiral development: the ability to rapidly integrate the next generation of technologies, and to proliferate the most impactful capabilities for increased capacity and lethality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JiIjWlRRoiY?si=3uHutnDgAS10d-Wm\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In its own announcement to its investors, Rocket Lab said that the initial amount is a base contract, adding that there are up to $10.45 million in options. The company said it would build these satellites on its Lightning satellite bus and feature \u201cRocket Lab\u2019s next-generation Phoenix infrared sensor payload, a wide field-of-view (WFOV) solution designed to meet the evolving missile defense needs of national security space\u201d as well as its \u201cadvanced StarLite space protection sensors, designed to safeguard the constellation against directed energy threats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab said some of the other companies on this contract were also incorporating its StarLite sensors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Tranche 3 Tracking Layer constellation is part of the U.S. Space Force\u2019s strategy to counter rapidly evolving global threats, ensuring the nation\u2019s defense capabilities remain ahead of adversaries. Rocket Lab is honored to play a role in enabling this,\u201d said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck. \u201cDemand for resilient, scalable, and affordable space systems continues to grow, and this award demonstrates that Rocket Lab is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in delivering solutions that meet the needs of national security.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is the second SDA contract for Rocket Lab, adding to its $515 million award for 18 satellites with the SDA\u2019s Transporter Layer-Beta Tranche 2 program. That will add \u201csecure, low-latency communications across the PWSA.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_71941\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-71941\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71941\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_L3Harris_28187_T3TRK_Image-02_v2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_L3Harris_28187_T3TRK_Image-02_v2.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_L3Harris_28187_T3TRK_Image-02_v2-300x168.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-71941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L3Harris technology for the SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer program will provide infrared sensing, advanced on-orbit data processing and real-time detection of advanced hypersonic and ballistic missile threats. Image: L3Harris Technologies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>L3Harris is adding to its previous allotments of four missile tracking satellites that launches as part of the Tranche 0 part of the constellation and 34 satellites that are in development across Tranche 1 and Tranche 2.<\/p>\n<p>The company recently opened a new facility on their Palm Bay, Florida, campus designed for production for their Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 satellites.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cL3Harris is proud to support SDA in its mission to deliver a next generation, layered defense architecture that can track threats in real time,\u201d said Christopher Kubasik, Chair and CEO, L3Harris. \u201cDefeating the hypersonic missile threat begins in space, and our Tranche 3 satellites will advance our proven, on-orbit tracking and targeting capability needed to protect our homeland.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_71942\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-71942\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71942\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_T3TRK_artwork_2025_no_GBI_cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_T3TRK_artwork_2025_no_GBI_cropped.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_T3TRK_artwork_2025_no_GBI_cropped-300x239.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-71942\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Northrop Grumman\u2019s TRKT3 will build on the Tracking Layer capabilities of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 with targeted technology enhancements, expanded coverage and increased integration including precision fire-control sensing. Image: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For its part, Northrop Grumman is now responsible for 150 satellites across the first three Tranches for the SDA. The first plane of its Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) satellites are set to launch \u201cin early 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNorthrop Grumman\u2019s contributions to both high and low altitude layers of our nation\u2019s missile warning and tracking architecture help protect our nation from a wide range of threats,\u201d said Brandon White, vice president and general manager of space-enabled multi-domain operations division at Northrop Grumman. \u201cWith our extensive history of fielding operational Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites, we are poised to rapidly deliver the TRKT3 satellites to the SDA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lockheed Martin is receiving the largest piece of the contract pie for its 18 satellites. The company received a $890 million contract for 18 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites in January 2024.<\/p>\n<p>It launched 21 of its T1TL satellites in October 2025 with 21 more in production.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_71944\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-71944\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71944\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_Lockheed_Martin_Tracking_Layer_Space_Vehicles-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_Lockheed_Martin_Tracking_Layer_Space_Vehicles-1.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_Lockheed_Martin_Tracking_Layer_Space_Vehicles-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251219_Lockheed_Martin_Tracking_Layer_Space_Vehicles-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-71944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lockheed Martin will provide 18 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer space vehicles under a new contract with the Space Development Agency. Image: Lockheed Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lockheed Martin\u2019s 18 TRKT3 satellites will be built on satellite buses from Terran Orbital. They will be built in Terran Orbital\u2019s SmallSat Processing and Delivery Center in Colorado.<\/p>\n<p>In total, Lockheed Martin is currently contracted to build 124 SVs for the SDA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLockheed Martin\u2019s ongoing investments and evolving practices demonstrate our commitment to supporting the SDA\u2019s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture,\u201d said Joe Rickers, vice president of Transport, Tracking and Warning at Lockheed Martin. \u201cThese innovative approaches position Lockheed Martin to meet the warfighter\u2019s urgent need for a proliferated missile defense constellation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All of the satellites in the Tracking Layer will be designed to work seamlessly across all other satellites in the PWSA constellation in low Earth orbit in concert with a common ground system.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Tracking Layer will form a global constellation in LEO of IR missile warning and missile tracking satellites that integrate with the Transport Layer\u2019s low-latency mesh communication network to provide mission data directly over tactical data links and enable advanced missile tracking from proliferated LEO,\u201d the SDA said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cResilience is built in through proliferation by fielding refreshed capabilities with targeted technological enhancements approximately every two years with each generation of satellites that launch.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An artist\u2019s rendering of Rocket Lab\u2019s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) program satellites, which are built on its Lightning satellite platform. Image: Rocket Lab The U.S. Space Force\u2019s Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded roughly $3.5 billion to four companies to begin building out the third generation of its low Earth orbit constellation. The SDA issued [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[865,472,554,544,881,882,883],"class_list":["post-9660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-l3harris-technologies","tag-lockheed-martin","tag-northrop-grumman","tag-rocket-lab","tag-space-development-agency","tag-tracking-layer-tranche-3","tag-trkt3"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9660\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}