The Space Development Agency has awarded prototype agreements worth approximately $2.5 billion combined to L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Sierra Space to build 54 satellites for the second tranche of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture’s tracking layer.
The T2 Tracking Layer is expected to launch no later than April 2027 to provide missile warning and missile tracking capabilities in support of missile defense and warfighter missions worldwide, SDA said Tuesday.
SDA awarded an other transaction authority agreement valued at approximately $919 million to L3Harris and another OTA worth $890 million to Lockheed. Sierra Space’s OTA agreement with SDA is worth approximately $740 million.
“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, director of SDA and a previous Wash100 awardee.
“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,” Tournear added.
Each contractor will produce 18 satellites, including 16 wide field-of-view missile warning and tracking spacecraft with infrared sensors and two satellites with fire control-quality infrared sensors.
Once completely deployed, the T2 constellation will consist of about 270 Transport and Tracking Layer satellites, according to SDA.
SDA Director Derek Tournear will deliver a keynote at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5. Register here to hear Tournear and other government leaders, industry executives and other experts discuss the latest space technologies, commercial investments and urgent issues facing the space domain.
