The Pentagon’s acting acquisition executive has initiated a review of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) progress in establishing a constellation of missile tracking and data transport satellites. Steven Morani, currently serving as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, issued a memo on January 31, instructing the Secretary of the Air Force to form an independent review team (IRT) to assess SDA’s organizational performance and acquisition strategy. This information was first reported by Breaking Defense.
The SDA was established in 2019 with the goal of rapidly deploying a network of hundreds of data transport and advanced missile tracking satellites, situated approximately 1,200 miles above Earth’s atmosphere in low Earth orbit. These satellites are designed to complement existing fleets of large satellites, with plans for capability upgrades every two years. The agency commenced the launch of its first group of satellites, known as Tranche 0, in April 2023, and is expected to begin launching the subsequent batch, Tranche 1, in the spring of 2024. Despite encountering delays attributed to supplier issues, the agency is maintaining its timeline to achieve operational satellites in orbit by 2026.
The review outlined in Morani’s memo aims to confirm that the SDA is poised to deliver the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation, alongside the necessary ground support for operating missile tracking, communications, and navigation satellites. The review team will evaluate risks related to the SDA’s contracting strategy, funding, and schedule, and will propose ways to address any identified challenges. SDA and the Air Force have refrained from commenting on the memo, which the Office of the Secretary of Defense did not respond to by the time of publication.
Additionally, Morani’s memo emphasizes the need for the review team to evaluate the effectiveness of SDA’s organizational staffing, structure, and its status as a direct reporting unit within the United States Space Force. Currently, the SDA operates as an independent acquisition entity within the Space Force, reporting to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration as well as the Chief of Space Operations.
This review comes shortly after SDA Director Derek Tournear was placed on administrative leave due to an ongoing investigation concerning previous contracting actions by the Air Force Office of Inspector General. Following this, Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, head of Space Systems Command, served as the acting SDA Director starting on January 16. Recently, it was announced that William Blauser, Deputy Director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, will lead the SDA in an acting capacity.
The memo clarifies that the review team will not interfere with the ongoing investigation and must refrain from assessing processes related to contract awards.
Courtney Albon, the author of the coverage, is C4ISRNET’s space and emerging technology reporter and has been reporting on the U.S. military since 2012, focusing on the Air Force and Space Force, as well as significant Defense Department acquisition, budget, and policy challenges.
