Space Development Agency details missile warning, tracking initiative

The Space Development Agency (SDA) recently announced the award of two prototype agreements to provide National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) missile warning/missile tracking warfighting capability.

The agreements, which include a potential total value of more than $1.3 billion, are earmarked for teams spearheaded by L3Harris Technologies, Inc., in Melbourne, Fla., and Northrop Grumman Strategic Space Systems in Redondo Beach, Calif.

Each company is slated to build a space segment involving two planes – seven space vehicles per plane, with 14 satellites from each performer for a total of 28 satellites in four planes.

The technology will collect infrared data and network communications, with each agreement including a launch services segment for launch preparation and an operations ground segment.

“The T1 Tracking Layer effort is a critical step toward building the National Defense Space Architecture,” SDA Director Derek Tournear said. “SDA is confident that selection of the L3 Harris and Northrop Grumman teams provides the best overall solution to accelerate delivery of a low-Earth orbit constellation with wide-field-of-view infrared sensors for a global missile warning and missile tracking capability in Tranche 1, on schedule.”

L3Harris Chair and Chief Executive Officer Christopher E. Kubasik said the speed with which SDA pursued the effort is commendable.

“This prime contract is a testament to our growing impact in the space community and affirms our strategy of being a Trusted Disruptor is gaining traction,” he said.

Robert Fleming, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Strategic Space Systems Division, said the company brings decades of proven experience in missile detection, identification, and tracking.

“We look forward to working with the Space Development Agency and our industry partners on the nation’s most pressing challenges in missile defense,” he said.