The Space Development Agency has released a draft request for proposals for a program to design, develop and test up to eight satellites that will comprise the Tracking Layer Tranche 0 of the proliferated National Defense Space Architecture in low-Earth orbit.
The tracking layer seeks to detect, track and target hypersonic weapons and other advanced missile threats and the draft RFP posted May 11 is for the Tranche 0 Wide Field of View program, which focuses on technology platforms needed to populate a proliferated LEO constellation.
SDA expects the tracking layer’s Tranche 0 WFOV satellites to be deployed by the end of fiscal year 2022. The agency has set several performance goals for the WFOV program, including the development and delivery of space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors and integration with a proliferated transport layer to provide tracking information over tactical data links.
SDA listed in the draft solicitation its requirements for contractors across several areas such as program management, systems engineering, launch support, assembly, integration and testing and on-orbit checkout, calibration and characterization.
Industry comments on the draft solicitation are due May 25.
SDA issued a solicitation for the Transport Layer Tranche 0 on May 1.
