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The US Space Development Agency announced three prototype agreements to build 54 missile warning/missile tracking (MW/MT) infrared sensors satellites with L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Sierra Space.
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These satellites will also incorporate fire control quality infrared sensors for missile defence in support of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and will be led by L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Sierra Space which will each deliver and operate 18 space vehicles as part of the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer constellation, launching no later than April 2027.
Derek Tournear, Space Development Agency (SDA) director, welcomed the contract announcement saying, “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.”
Each vendor will provide 16 wide field of view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles with infrared sensors and two space vehicles with missile defence infrared sensors that can generate fire control quality tracks to provide preliminary missile defence mission capabilities.
L3Harris Technologies was awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of US$919 million (AU$1.39 billion), Lockheed Martin Corporation was awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of US$890 million (AU$1.35 billion, and Sierra Space is being awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA with a total potential value of US$740 million (AU$1.12 billion).
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 defence infrared sensors that can generate fire control quality tracks to provide preliminary missile defence mission capabilities in support of warfighter missions around the globe.
The fire control missile defence 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 defence capability.
“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 defence,” Tournear explained.
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.
As part of the US Space Force, SDA is recognised as DOD’s constructive disruptor for space acquisition. SDA is designed to accelerate delivery of space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
