The Space Development Agency (SDA) recently awarded Lockheed Martin, a global defense technology company, with a contract with a potential value of more than $1 billion to supply 18 satellites for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer constellation.
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide 18 missile warning, tracking, and defense satellites that will turn fire-control-quality tracks into actionable engagements. The satellites will enable persistent global indication, detection, warning, tracking and identification of conventional and advanced missile threats including hypersonic systems.
The satellites will provide SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture with missile tracking capabilities. The architecture is a layered network of missile defense and military communications satellites in low Earth orbit.
“Lockheed Martin’s ongoing investments and evolving practices demonstrate our commitment to supporting the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture,” Joe Rickers, Lockheed Martin vice president of Transport, Tracking and Warning, said. “These innovative approaches position Lockheed Martin to meet the warfighter’s urgent need for a proliferated missile defense constellation.”
The contract builds on Lockheed Martin’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer award. The company’s
work on T3 Tracking Layer is augmented by a supply chain that enables a rapid-production timeline.
The satellites will be built at a Lockheed Martin facility in Colorado.