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Program tracker · US Space Force, Space Development Agency
For BD teams chasing SDA work, investors in the primes and their suppliers, and policy readers asking whether the tranches are on schedule.
Sources: Space Development Agency, Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1 (fact sheet) (Sep 5, 2025)
Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Completes Third Launch of Tranche 1 Satellites (Jul 16, 2026); Space Development Agency, On orbit (Tranche 1 launch status) (Jul 21, 2026); GAO, Laser Communications: Space Development Agency Should Create Links Between Development Phases (GAO-25-106838) (Feb 26, 2025)
Sources: GAO, GAO-25-106838 highlights (Feb 26, 2025)
Sources: Breaking Defense, Space Force shifts from SDA transport layer to new Space Data Network "backbone" (Apr 22, 2026) [secondary]
Unconfirmed: Reported by Breaking Defense; we did not find the statement in a primary source.
Curated rows checked against their sources on Sep 27, 2026; database rows (awards, satellites, launches) are read live and cached for an hour. Every fact links its source. Nothing here is sponsored, and no company can pay to change, reorder or preview it. Spotted an error? Report a correction.
Compiled Sep 28, 2026 from 8 public records. Every figure links the record it comes from.
Obligated on USAspending awards matched to the program by our rule
$2.07B on 46 awards
Largest recipient: GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC., $1.05B
Money actually obligated on the rows our rule matches, for the companies we track; an announced ceiling is not obligation. The rule is printed under the awards table.
| Announced | Contractor | What | Value as announced | Award record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2026 | L3Harris Technologiesfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 accelerated missile defense tracking: 18 satellites in two planes, in support of Golden DomeFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementThe two accelerated awards total "approximately $1.75 billion". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Issues Awards to Build 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 in Support of Golden Dome for America |
No public data in our pipeline yet: our FFATA subaward table holds no record for this program's award IDs. Primes report first-tier subawards to USAspending, and we will list them here when our subaward sync reaches these awards.
Sources: SEC EDGAR (Rule 425 filing), Terran Orbital Awarded Contract in Support of the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Transport Layer (Mar 15, 2022)
74 payloads catalogued, of which 72 in orbit by GCAT's status code.
Built by: York Space Systems (31), Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Denver), Astronautics Operations (31), Terran Orbital (21), Tyvak Nanosatellite Systems LLC (10), SpaceX (4), Leidos (4), L3Harris Space and Intelligence Systems (4), General Atomics Electromagnetic System Group/Englewood (2), Astro Digital .
22 on the schedule; 0 have slipped at least once since we began recording on Aug 29, 2026. A date is shown only as precisely as the schedule knows it.
| Scheduled | Mission | Rocket | Slip history |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer ALaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q4 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer D |
SDA's satellites are US military spacecraft, so no FCC space-station licence applies. No public data on their spectrum coordination is tracked here.
Tranche 0: first launch
GAO, describing SDA's plan, Feb 26, 2025. Deadline as stated: September 2022 (read as Sep 30, 2022).
"SDA planned to start launching the satellites in September 2022, but the initial launch was delayed until April 2023."
Said in: GAO, Laser Communications: Space Development Agency Should Create Links Between Development Phases (GAO-25-106838) (Feb 26, 2025)
Met late, Apr 2, 2023 (184 days after the deadline). The first Tranche 0 launch carried 10 satellites: 8 York transport and 2 SpaceX tracking.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites (Apr 2, 2023)
No Promise Ledger entry covers this program yet. The Promise Ledger takes only verbatim, dated commitments with a primary source; suggest one through its corrections link.
How this page is built: the contract values under “As announced”, the suppliers, the schedule statements and the context are curated from primary sources and dated. The USAspending awards, GCAT payloads and launches are our own database rows, matched to the program by the rule printed under each table, so a row the rule misses is absent rather than guessed. Cite as “SpaceNexus program tracker: SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture” with the link and the date you read it.
Contracts announced by the customer or the contractor
28 announced awards
Newest: L3Harris Technologies, Tranche 3 accelerated missile defense tracking: 18 satellites in two planes, in support of Golden Dome
Source: Space Development Agency
Announced Jul 13, 2026
Launches flown for the program
3 launches
3 full successes, 0 partial, 0 failed
Counted from our Launch Library record, which begins 2024-11-18.
Source: Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)
Latest Jul 16, 2026
Launches on the schedule
22; 0 slipped
Next: Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A, Oct 5, 2026
A slip counts only when both dates were known to the day (the Launch Ledger rule), so a placeholder date rolling forward is not a slip.
Source: Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs)
Schedule read; slips recorded since 2026-08-29 Sep 28, 2026
Payloads in the GCAT catalogue
74 launched; 72 in orbit
Main maker: York Space Systems (31)
The catalogue we hold covers launches through 2026-07-11.
Source: GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org)
GCAT file dated Sep 24, 2026
Satellite data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0.
APA
SpaceNexus. (2026, September 28). SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture: Program tracker [Data set]. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://spacenexus.us/programs/sda-pwsa
Chicago
SpaceNexus. "SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture: Program tracker." Data as of September 28, 2026. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://spacenexus.us/programs/sda-pwsa.
BibTeX
@misc{spacenexus_sdaproliferatedwarfighterspacear_2026,
author = {{SpaceNexus}},
title = {{SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture}: Program tracker},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
howpublished = {\url{https://spacenexus.us/programs/sda-pwsa}},
url = {https://spacenexus.us/programs/sda-pwsa},
urldate = {2026-09-28},
note = {Data as of 2026-09-28; each fact links its primary source}
}| $955 millionannounced total |
| No USAspending record linked |
| Jul 13, 2026 | Sierra Spacefor Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 accelerated missile defense tracking: 18 satellites in two planesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Issues Awards to Build 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 in Support of Golden Dome for America (Jul 13, 2026) | $798 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Lockheed Martinfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 Tracking Layer: 18 missile warning, tracking and defense satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementThe four Tranche 3 Tracking awards total "approximately $3.5 billion". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 (Dec 19, 2025) | $1.1 billionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Dec 19, 2025 | L3Harris Technologiesfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 Tracking Layer: 18 missile warning and tracking satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 (Dec 19, 2025) | $843 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Rocket Lab USAfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 Tracking Layer: 18 missile warning, tracking and defense satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 (Dec 19, 2025); Rocket Lab (SEC 8-K), Rocket Lab Awarded $816M Prime Contract to Build Missile-Defense Satellite Constellation for U.S. Space Force (Dec 19, 2025) Unconfirmed: The figures differ: SDA says $805 million; Rocket Lab's release says "$816M prime contract award value", made up of a $806 million base plus up to $10.45 million in options. We show SDA's. | $805 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Northrop Grummanfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 Tracking Layer: 18 missile warning and tracking satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 (Dec 19, 2025) | $764 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Apr 22, 2025 | Science Applications International Corp.for Space Development Agency | Tranche 3 program integration (Transport, Tracking and Custody)Cost-plus-award-fee contract; five offers received Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Announces Award for Tranche 3 Program and Integration (Apr 22, 2025) | $54.9 millionannounced total | FA240125C0005 |
| Aug 16, 2024 | York Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma: 10 satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreement (FA24012490067)In March 2025 SDA put 10 Gamma satellites up for recompete; we have not found which vendor's, or the outcome. An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Makes Awards to Build 20 Gamma Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Aug 16, 2024); Space Development Agency, SDA Issues Solicitation to Recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma Variant Space Vehicles (Mar 7, 2025) | $170 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Aug 16, 2024 | Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems (Terran Orbital)for Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma: 10 satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreement (FA24012490066)Same recompete question as York's Gamma award. An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Makes Awards to Build 20 Gamma Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Aug 16, 2024); Space Development Agency, SDA Issues Solicitation to Recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma Variant Space Vehicles (Mar 7, 2025) | $254 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Jan 16, 2024 | L3Harris Technologiesfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Tracking Layer: 18 satellites (16 missile warning and tracking, 2 missile defense)Firm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Satellites (Jan 16, 2024) | $919 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Jan 16, 2024 | Lockheed Martinfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Tracking Layer: 18 satellites (16 plus 2)Firm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Satellites (Jan 16, 2024) | $890 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Jan 16, 2024 | Sierra Spacefor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Tracking Layer: 18 satellites (16 plus 2)Firm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Satellites (Jan 16, 2024) | $740 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Jan 8, 2024 | Rocket Lab National Securityfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Beta: 18 satellites in two planes of 9Firm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Third Award to Build 18 Additional Beta Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Jan 8, 2024); Rocket Lab (SEC 8-K), Rocket Lab Makes its Defense Prime Debut with $0.5 Billion Contract (Jan 8, 2024) | $515 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Oct 30, 2023 | York Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Alpha: 62 satellites in eight planes, plus ground and supportFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementEach Alpha award includes an equal on-time incentive payment. An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 100 Alpha Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Oct 30, 2023) | $617 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Oct 30, 2023 | Northrop Grumman Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Alpha: 38 satellites in two planesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementThe pair totals "approximately $1.3 billion". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 100 Alpha Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Oct 30, 2023) | $732 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Aug 21, 2023 | Northrop Grumman Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Beta: 36 satellites in three planes of 12Firm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreement (FA24012390041)An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Beta Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Aug 21, 2023) | $733 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Aug 21, 2023 | Lockheed Martinfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 2 Transport Layer Beta: 36 satellitesFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreement (FA24012390042)SDA's figure is about $816 million; the pair totals "approximately $1.5 billion". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Beta Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Aug 21, 2023) | $816 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Oct 6, 2022 | York Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System: 12 satellites plus groundFirm-fixed-price Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementYork's August 2026 10-Q says SDA "descoped the planned launch for the remaining T1DES constellation"; the contract change is still being negotiated. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Awards Prototype Agreement to Establish the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) (Oct 6, 2022); York Space Systems (SEC 10-Q), Quarterly report for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (Aug 14, 2026) | $200 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Jul 18, 2022 | L3Harris Technologiesfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 Tracking Layer: 14 satellites in two planes of 7, with launch preparation and groundOther transaction (OT) prototype agreementAn OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency (DOD News), Space Development Agency Makes Awards for 28 Satellites to Build Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (Jul 18, 2022) Unconfirmed: SDA's release gives one agreement number, HQ08502290003, for both Tracking awards; it is the same number SDA gave York's Tranche 1 Transport award, so we treat it as unverified. | $700 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| Jul 18, 2022 | Northrop Grumman Strategic Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 Tracking Layer: 14 satellites in two planes of 7Other transaction (OT) prototype agreementThe two Tracking awards together have a "total potential value over $1.3 billion". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency (DOD News), Space Development Agency Makes Awards for 28 Satellites to Build Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (Jul 18, 2022) | $617 millionannounced total | No USAspending record linked |
| May 26, 2022 | General Dynamics Mission Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 ground operations and integrationContractAnnounced as $162,954,122 base plus $161,562,491 in options. USAspending showed about $1.05 billion obligated when read on September 27, 2026, about 3.2 times the announced value. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Announces Award for Tranche 1 Operations & Integration (May 26, 2022) | $324.5 millionannounced total | HQ085022C0007 |
| Feb 28, 2022 | York Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 Transport Layer: 42 satellites in two planes of 21Other transaction (OT) prototype agreement (HQ08502290003)SDA's wording: "potential value of approximately $382 million". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards for Tranche 1 Transport Layer (Feb 28, 2022) | $382 millionpotential | No USAspending record linked |
| Feb 28, 2022 | Lockheed Martinfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 Transport Layer: 42 satellitesOther transaction (OT) prototype agreement (HQ08502290001)"Potential value of approximately $700 million". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards for Tranche 1 Transport Layer (Feb 28, 2022) | $700 millionpotential | No USAspending record linked |
| Feb 28, 2022 | Northrop Grumman Strategic Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 1 Transport Layer: 42 satellitesOther transaction (OT) prototype agreement (HQ08502290002)"Potential value of approximately $692 million"; the three Transport awards together are "approximately $1.8 billion". An OT agreement: not found on USAspending under any award type when searched on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards for Tranche 1 Transport Layer (Feb 28, 2022) | $692 millionpotential | No USAspending record linked |
| Oct 5, 2020 | SpaceXfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 0 Tracking Layer (wide field of view): 4 satellitesFirm-fixed-price contractUSAspending showed about $155.5 million obligated when read on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Tracking Layer (Oct 5, 2020); Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites (Apr 2, 2023) | $149.2 millionannounced total | HQ085021C0001 |
| Oct 5, 2020 | L3Harris Technologiesfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 0 Tracking Layer (wide field of view): 4 satellitesFirm-fixed-price contractUSAspending showed about $221.1 million obligated when read on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Tracking Layer (Oct 5, 2020); Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites (Apr 2, 2023) | $193.6 millionannounced total | HQ085021C0002 |
| Aug 31, 2020 | York Space Systemsfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 0 Transport Layer: 10 satellitesFirm-fixed-price contractUSAspending showed about $126.5 million obligated when read on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Transport Layer (Aug 31, 2020); Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites (Apr 2, 2023) | $94 millionannounced total | HQ085020C0008 |
| Aug 31, 2020 | Lockheed Martinfor Space Development Agency | Tranche 0 Transport Layer: 10 satellitesFirm-fixed-price contractUSAspending showed about $210.2 million obligated when read on September 27, 2026. Sources: Space Development Agency, SDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Transport Layer (Aug 31, 2020); Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites (Apr 2, 2023) | $187.5 millionannounced total | HQ085020C0009 |
SDA buys its Tranche 1, 2 and 3 satellites through other transaction (OT) prototype agreements, as its award announcements say. Searched on September 27, 2026, USAspending lists none of the agreement numbers SDA published, so those awards appear only under "As announced". Tranche 0 was bought with ordinary contracts, which do appear on USAspending. A Raytheon Tranche 1 Tracking agreement, which GAO lists and says SDA descoped in early 2024, is not shown because we found no SDA announcement of it. The records below are SDA's contracts: Tranche 0, ground operations and integration, program integration and smaller buys.
46 award records with $2.07 billion obligated, dated May 26, 2020 to Apr 27, 2026. Obligated means money actually put on contract, not an announced ceiling. Newest row read from USAspending on Sep 24, 2026.
| Recipient | Awards | Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. | 4 | $1.05 billion |
| SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | 3 | $330.2 million |
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP | 1 | $210.2 million |
| L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | 3 | $203.8 million |
| YORK SPACE SYSTEMS LLC | 1 | $125.1 million |
| GENERAL ATOMICS | 3 | $44.4 million |
| PERATON TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC. | 4 | $35.7 million |
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | 3 | $18.7 million |
| SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION | 1 | $13.1 million |
| ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC. | 3 | $12.8 million |
| LEIDOS, INC. | 1 | $5.2 million |
| VIASAT INC | 6 | $3.7 million |
| CAPELLA SPACE CORPORATION | 2 | $3.2 million |
| AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC. | 1 | $2.3 million |
| COGNITIVE SPACE, INC | 2 | $2.1 million |
And 8 more recipients.
| Award ID | Recipient | Description (the government's words) | Date | Obligated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQ085022C0007 | GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. | SDA TRANCHE 1 OPERATIONS AND INTEGRATION | May 26, 2022 | $1.05 billion |
| HQ085020C0009 |
An indefinite-delivery vehicle's own amount is the sum of the orders placed under it, and those orders are counted above, so vehicles are listed but never added.
Our USAspending mirror is filled company by company for the 323 companies we track, so awards to anyone else are not in it. Rule: Every USAspending contract row from SDA's contracting offices (award IDs beginning HQ0850 and FA2401, which include office purchases such as encryption equipment), plus Air Force rows elsewhere whose own description names the Space Development Agency, PWSA, a tranche's Transport or Tracking Layer. Source: USAspending.gov (US Treasury).
Sources: Terran Orbital (SEC 8-K), Terran Orbital third quarter 2023 results (Nov 14, 2023); Terran Orbital (SEC 8-K), Terran Orbital fourth quarter and full year 2023 results (Apr 1, 2024)
Sources: Terran Orbital (SEC 8-K), Terran Orbital first quarter 2024 results (May 14, 2024)
Sources: Mynaric (SEC 6-K), Mynaric acts as sole laser communication supplier for Northrop Grumman as part of milestone U.S. government program (Jun 14, 2022)
Sources: Mynaric (SEC 6-K), Mynaric to provide optical communications terminals to Northrop Grumman for Tranche 1 Tracking (Oct 18, 2022)
Sources: Mynaric (SEC 6-K), Mynaric selected by Raytheon Technologies to supply optical communications terminals for SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program (Jun 21, 2023); GAO, Laser Communications: Space Development Agency Should Create Links Between Development Phases (GAO-25-106838) (Feb 26, 2025)
Sources: Mynaric (SEC 6-K), Volume Production Begins for Mynaric's Flagship Space Laser Terminal: CONDOR Mk3 (Apr 3, 2024)
Sources: Mynaric (SEC 6-K), ReOrbit selects Mynaric's CONDOR Mk3 for Space-to-Space and Space-to-Ground Laser Communications Demonstration (Jun 25, 2024)
Sources: York Space Systems (SEC 424B4), York Space Systems prospectus (Jan 30, 2026)
Sources: Leidos (SEC 8-K), Leidos fourth quarter 2022 results (Feb 14, 2023)
Sources: Intuitive Machines (SEC 10-K), Annual report for fiscal 2025 (Mar 19, 2026)
Unconfirmed: 16 buses against L3Harris's 14 Tranche 1 Tracking satellites; the difference is not explained.
Sources: Viasat (SEC 8-K), Viasat first quarter fiscal 2023 shareholder letter (Aug 8, 2022)
Sources: Firefly Aerospace (SEC 8-K), Firefly Aerospace fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 results (Mar 19, 2026)
| Launched | Launch (COSPAR) | Payloads | Count | In orbit | Maker and bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2025 | 2025-230 | SDA-1664 to SDA-1684 (21) | 21 | 21 | Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Denver), Astronautics Operations, Terran OrbitalLM-T1TL |
| Sep 10, 2025 | 2025-203 | Praetorian SDA-601 to Praetorian SDA-621 (21) | 21 | 21 | York Space SystemsS-Class |
| Jun 23, 2025 | 2025-135 | York T1DES | 1 | 1 | York Space SystemsYork |
| Feb 14, 2024 | 2024-028 | RAPTOR 1 to RAPTOR 4 (4) | 4 | 4 | L3Harris Space and Intelligence SystemsTPL0-L3H |
| Sep 2, 2023 | 2023-133 | BB 3 to Wildfire 9 (13) | 13 | 13 | SpaceX, Leidos, York Space Systems, Tyvak Nanosatellite Systems LLC, Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Denver), Astronautics OperationsStarshield?, S-Class, Mavericks |
| Apr 2, 2023 | 2023-050 | BB 1 to Checkmate 8 (10) | 10 | 10 | SpaceX, Leidos, York Space SystemsStarshield?, S-Class |
| Jun 30, 2021 | 2021-059 | LINCS 1 to Mandrake 2B (4) | 4 | 2 | General Atomics Electromagnetic System Group/Englewood, Astro DigitalCubesat 12U, Corvus-XL |
Rule: GCAT payloads owned or co-owned by the Space Development Agency (GCAT organisation code SDA), including its 2021 demonstration satellites. The catalogue we hold covers launches through Jul 11, 2026 (GCAT file dated Sep 24, 2026); later launches are not in it yet. Satellite data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0. GCAT.
| Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| No slip recorded |
| Q4 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer FLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q4 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer ALaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q4 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer CLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q4 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer ELaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer BLaunch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer DLaunch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer ALaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Vulcan | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer BLaunch Library record | Vulcan | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Tracking Layer ALaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Tracking Layer BLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Dec 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer DLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Dec 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer ELaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Jan 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer CLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Jan 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer FLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Feb 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer GLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Mar 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer HLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| May 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer ILaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Jun 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer JLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q2 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Tracking Layer CLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
| Q2 2027 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Tracking Layer DLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | No slip recorded |
3 flown in our record (it begins Nov 18, 2024): 3 successes, 0 partial failures, 0 failures. Launch outcomes are the launch vehicle's, as Launch Library records them.
| Launched | Mission | Rocket | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer ELaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Success |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer CLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Success |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer BLaunch Library record | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Success |
Rule: Launch Library launches named for an SDA tranche (for example "SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer B"). Slips use the Launch Ledger rule: a move counts only when both dates were known to the day, so a placeholder rolling from one month or year to the next is never a slip. Schedule data from Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs).
Tranche 1 Transport: first plane by September 2024, then one a month
Space Development Agency (award release), Feb 28, 2022. Deadline as stated: by September 2024 (read as Sep 30, 2024).
"The first plane of the T1TL constellation will be launched by September 2024 with the launches of subsequent planes following on one month intervals."
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards for Tranche 1 Transport Layer (Feb 28, 2022)
Met late, Sep 10, 2025 (345 days after the deadline). The first Tranche 1 launch carried 21 York Transport satellites. Later planes did not follow at monthly intervals (see the cadence row).
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Completes Successful Launch of First Tranche 1 Satellites (Sep 10, 2025)
Tranche 1 fielding begins in late 2024
Space Development Agency (Tranche 0 launch release), Apr 2, 2023. Deadline as stated: late 2024 (read as Dec 31, 2024).
"SDA plans to field the first operational generation of the PWSA, Tranche 1, beginning in late 2024."
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites (Apr 2, 2023)
Met late, Sep 10, 2025 (253 days after the deadline). The first Tranche 1 launch.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Completes Successful Launch of First Tranche 1 Satellites (Sep 10, 2025)
Tranche 1 Tracking satellites begin launching in April 2025
Space Development Agency (award release), Jul 18, 2022. Deadline as stated: April 2025 (read as Apr 30, 2025).
"These satellites will begin to launch in April 2025."
Said in: Space Development Agency (DOD News), Space Development Agency Makes Awards for 28 Satellites to Build Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (Jul 18, 2022)
Missed. No Tranche 1 Tracking satellite had launched when SDA last updated its on-orbit page (July 21, 2026); its launch table lists three Transport launches only, and SDA had announced no further launch as of September 27, 2026.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, On orbit (Tranche 1 launch status) (Jul 21, 2026)
Tranche 1 demonstration and Tracking satellites on four NSSL launches in fiscal 2025
Space Development Agency (T1DES award release), Oct 6, 2022. Deadline as stated: fiscal year 2025 (read as Sep 30, 2025).
"The launches are expected to occur in fiscal year 2025."
Said in: Space Development Agency, SDA Awards Prototype Agreement to Establish the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) (Oct 6, 2022)
Missed. Only the single T1DES prototype flew in fiscal 2025, on a June 23, 2025 rideshare, "four months ahead of the original baseline schedule". York reported in August 2026 that SDA descoped the planned launch of the remaining T1DES satellites. No Tranche 1 Tracking satellite had launched by SDA's last on-orbit update (July 21, 2026), and SDA had announced none by September 27, 2026.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, On orbit (Tranche 1 launch status) (Jul 21, 2026)
About one Tranche 1 launch a month for nine months
Space Development Agency (first Tranche 1 launch release), Sep 10, 2025. Deadline as stated: the next nine months (read as Jun 30, 2026).
"Tranche 1 launches will continue with an approximate cadence of one launch per month for the next nine months"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Completes Successful Launch of First Tranche 1 Satellites (Sep 10, 2025)
Missed. One more launch followed in the window (Lockheed Martin satellites, October 15, 2025); the third came on July 16, 2026.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, On orbit (Tranche 1 launch status) (Jul 21, 2026)
Tranche 2 Transport Beta: first plane ready for launch by September 2026
Derek Tournear, SDA Director (award release), Aug 21, 2023. Deadline as stated: first plane ready for launch by September 2026 (the release) (read as Sep 30, 2026).
"We are now solidly in the procurement phase for Tranche 2 of the PWSA to support a 2026 delivery"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Beta Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Aug 21, 2023)
Pending. No Tranche 2 launch had been reported by SDA as of September 27, 2026.
Tranche 2 Transport Alpha: first plane launched no later than September 2026
Space Development Agency (award release), Oct 30, 2023. Deadline as stated: no later than September 2026 (read as Sep 30, 2026).
"The first orbital plane of the T2TL-Alpha constellation will be launched no later than September 2026."
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 100 Alpha Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Oct 30, 2023)
Pending. Not reported as launched as of September 27, 2026.
The remaining 11 T1DES satellites launch in fiscal 2026
Space Development Agency (T1DES prototype launch release), Jun 24, 2025. Deadline as stated: fiscal year 2026 (read as Sep 30, 2026).
"The remaining 11 T1DES satellite vehicles, planned for launch in fiscal year 2026"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Completes Successful Launch of T1DES Prototype Satellite (Jun 24, 2025)
Withdrawn, Aug 14, 2026. York reported that SDA "descoped the planned launch for the remaining T1DES constellation".
Outcome source: York Space Systems (SEC 10-Q), Quarterly report for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (Aug 14, 2026)
Tranche 1 deployment complete in 2026, after 10 launches
Space Development Agency (Tranche 1 fact sheet), Sep 5, 2025. Deadline as stated: 2026 (read as Dec 31, 2026).
"The first T1 launch is set for summer 2025. Deployment of T1 will complete in 2026, following a campaign of 10 launches."
Said in: Space Development Agency, Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1 (fact sheet) (Sep 5, 2025)
Pending. The first launch flew on September 10, 2025. Three of the 10 launches had flown, with 63 satellites on orbit, at SDA's July 16, 2026 update; SDA had announced no further Tranche 1 launch as of September 27, 2026.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Completes Third Launch of Tranche 1 Satellites (Jul 16, 2026)
Tranche 2 Tracking satellites launching no later than April 2027
Space Development Agency (award release), Jan 16, 2024. Deadline as stated: no later than April 2027 (read as Apr 30, 2027).
"launching no later than April 2027"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer Satellites (Jan 16, 2024)
Pending. Not yet due.
Rocket Lab's Tranche 2 Beta planes launching no later than July 2027
Space Development Agency (award release), Jan 8, 2024. Deadline as stated: no later than July 2027 (read as Jul 31, 2027).
"launching no later than July 2027"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Third Award to Build 18 Additional Beta Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Jan 8, 2024)
Pending. Not yet due.
Tranche 2 Gamma satellites delivered for launch from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027
Space Development Agency (award release), Aug 16, 2024. Deadline as stated: fourth quarter of fiscal year 2027 (read as Sep 30, 2027).
"delivery for launch scheduled to begin by fourth quarter of fiscal year 2027"
Said in: Space Development Agency, SDA Makes Awards to Build 20 Gamma Variant Satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (Aug 16, 2024)
Pending. Not yet due. Ten Gamma satellites were put up for recompete in March 2025.
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, SDA Issues Solicitation to Recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma Variant Space Vehicles (Mar 7, 2025)
Tranche 1 initial warfighting capability beginning in 2027
Space Development Agency (first Tranche 1 launch release), Sep 10, 2025. Deadline as stated: beginning in 2027 (read as Dec 31, 2027).
"Beginning in 2027, T1 will provide initial warfighting capability through the PWSA"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Completes Successful Launch of First Tranche 1 Satellites (Sep 10, 2025)
Pending. Not yet due. SDA's July 16, 2026 release still says "beginning in 2027".
Outcome source: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Successfully Completes Third Launch of Tranche 1 Satellites (Jul 16, 2026)
Accelerated missile defense satellites available for launch by the end of 2028
Space Development Agency (award release), Jul 13, 2026. Deadline as stated: by the end of 2028 (read as Dec 31, 2028).
"The SVs are expected to be available for launch by the end of 2028."
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Issues Awards to Build 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 in Support of Golden Dome for America (Jul 13, 2026)
Pending. Not yet due.
Tranche 3 Tracking satellites launching in fiscal 2029
Space Development Agency (award release), Dec 19, 2025. Deadline as stated: fiscal year 2029 (read as Sep 30, 2029).
"launching in fiscal year 2029"
Said in: Space Development Agency, Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 (Dec 19, 2025)
Pending. Not yet due.
| LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP |
| SPACE TRANSPORT LAYER TRANCHE 0 (QTY 10 SPACE VEHICLES) |
| Aug 31, 2020 |
| $210.2 million |
| HQ085021C0002 | L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | SDA TRACKING LAYER TRANCHE 0, WIDE FIELD OF VIEW (WFOV) PROGRAM | Oct 2, 2020 | $200.9 million |
| HQ085021C0005 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | SDA TRANCHE 0 LAUNCH SERVICE | Dec 31, 2020 | $158 million |
| HQ085021C0001 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. | SDA TRACKING LAYER TRANCHE 0, WIDE FIELD OF VIEW (WFOV) PROGRAM | Oct 2, 2020 | $155.5 million |
| HQ085020C0008 | YORK SPACE SYSTEMS LLC | SPACE TRANSPORT LAYER TRANCHE 0 (QTY. 10 SPACE VEHICLES) | Aug 31, 2020 | $125.1 million |
| FA240123C0013 | GENERAL ATOMICS | DEMONSTRATION OF MANHATTAN SPACECRAFT OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS TERMINAL | Sep 27, 2023 | $25.4 million |
| HQ085021F0001 | PERATON TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC. | MSEI TO1 CORE LABOR | Oct 22, 2020 | $17.9 million |
| FA240125C0001 | SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP | SATELLITE PROCESSING FACILITY THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 21 SATELLITES AND DISPENSER STACK, POST TRANSPORT FUNCTIONAL TESTING AS REQUIRED, AND MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL MATES TO THE DISPENSER HARDWARE. | Dec 11, 2024 | $16.7 million |
| HQ085020C0002 | NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | PROTOTYPE INFARED PAYLOAD (PIRPL) BASE | Jun 11, 2020 | $15.2 million |
| HQ085021C0011 | GENERAL ATOMICS | BASIC AWARD UNDER HQ085021S0002 FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF LASER INTERCONNECTIVITY AND NETWORKING COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (LINCS) AIR-TO-SPACE LASER COMMUNICATION TERMINAL (LCT). | Jun 1, 2021 | $14.5 million |
| HQ085022F0004 | PERATON TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC. | MSEI CORE LABOR - COST PLUS FIXED FEE | Apr 25, 2022 | $13.2 million |
| FA240125C0005 | SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION | SDA PWSA TRANCHE 3 PROGRAM INTEGRATION (T3PI) - DEVELOPMENT AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING/INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES ENABLING THE DELIVERY OF SDA T3 GROUND AND SPACE VEHICLES | Apr 22, 2025 | $13.1 million |
| FA240125C0007 | ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC. | ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE NSA CERTIFICATION OF THE KOR-9X LINK-16 TERMINAL. | May 5, 2025 | $7.2 million |
| FA240124C0007 | LEIDOS, INC. | TRANCHE 0 TRACKING - OPERATIONS AND SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT (T0TOSS) | Sep 16, 2024 | $5.2 million |
| HQ085020C0001 | GENERAL ATOMICS | OPTICAL INTERSATELLITE LINKS (OISL) DEMONSTRATION | May 26, 2020 | $4.5 million |
| FA240125C0002 | ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC. | COLLINS AEROSPACE T1TL BMC3 APPLICATIONS | Jan 23, 2025 | $3.2 million |
| HQ085021C0012 | CAPELLA SPACE CORPORATION | CAPELLA SPACE CORPORATION U.S. COMMERCIAL SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (SAR) OPTICAL INTER-SATELLITE LINK (OISL) TO SDA TRANCHE 0 TRANSPORT LAYER DEMO. | Jun 14, 2021 | $3 million |
| FA240124F0001 | PERATON TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC. | MSEI CORE LABOR - COST PLUS FIXED FEE. | Dec 20, 2023 | $2.9 million |
| FA240124C0002 | L3 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | ADVANCED TACTICAL DATA LINK COMMON PAYLOAD | Nov 6, 2023 | $2.6 million |
| FA240124C0003 | ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC. | WARLOCK PROGRAM | Nov 21, 2023 | $2.5 million |
| FA240125F0003 | AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC. | AFCGI PROGRAM PROVIDES THE GROUND SUPPORT FOR THE SDAS ADVANCED FIRE CONTROL MISSION. SEE SECTION H FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER INFORMATION. | May 1, 2025 | $2.3 million |
| HQ085021C0015 | NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | SDA CLASSIFIED RESEARCH PROJECT. | Jul 20, 2021 | $2.2 million |
| FA254125CB025 | BLACKSKY GEOSPATIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC | SF242-D028: STRATEGIC ADVANCEMENTS IN RESILIENT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR PWSA ENHANCEMENT. THIS SBIR PHASE II CONTRACT AIMS TO DEVELOP THE FOUNDATION TO LEVERAGE THE COMMERCIAL SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE BY CONNECTING TO THE SDA | Jan 8, 2025 | $1.8 million |
| FA254125CB007 | COGNITIVE SPACE, INC | COGNITIVE SPACE WILL ENHANCE ITS CNTIENT-OPTIMIZE PRODUCT AND WORK WITH SDA THROUGH AN AGILE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO UPDATE, DEMONSTRATE AND ITERATE WITH THE SDA CUSTOMER FOR THE EFFECTIVE AUTOMATED TASKING OF TRACKING LA | Dec 9, 2024 | $1.8 million |