The Space Development Agency (SDA) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) launched six satellites on Wednesday. Four support SDA’s constellation of tracking spacecraft and two are part of the MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor program (HBTSS).
The agencies, along with the Space Force, are working to develop a more robust network of satellites for tracking traditional ballistic missiles and maneuvering hypersonic weapons. The satellites will reside in low Earth orbit (LEO), about 1,200 miles above the planet’s surface.
The Pentagon expects to spend nearly $16 billion on these efforts through fiscal 2028, according to the Space Force’s FY24 budget request. L3Harris built all four of the SDA satellites, which are part of the agency’s Tranche 0 tracking layer. The company is also on contract to build missile tracking satellites for the next two capability tranches, which will feature improved sensor technology.
MDA also tapped L3Harris to build one of its HBTSS satellites, selecting Northrop Grumman to develop the second. L3Harris will have a role in HBTSS as well as the first three tranches of SDA’s missile tracking constellation.
The agency has launched 27 Tranche 0 satellites since April 2023 — eight for missile tracking and 19 for data transport and communications. In September, SDA will begin launching its Tranche 1 spacecraft, which will eventually include 161 operational satellites.
