L3Harris and Sierra Space Win $1.75 Billion Contract to Build 36 Missile-Tracking Satellites
The U.S. Space Force's Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded contracts worth approximately $1.75 billion to L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space on July 13 to build 36 missile warning and tracking satellites for its proliferated low Earth orbit constellation. The awards fall under the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 program, expanding the Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
L3Harris received a contract valued at roughly $955 million to build 18 missile defense satellites equipped with sensors similar to the Missile Defense Agency's Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS), distributed across two orbital planes. Sierra Space was awarded approximately $798 million for 18 missile warning and tracking satellites, also across two orbital planes. All satellites are scheduled to be available for launch by the end of 2028.
The new spacecraft will be interoperable with Tracking Layer satellites already procured under Tranches 1, 2, and 3, and will operate through a common ground system, SDA said. The Tracking Layer consists of infrared sensor satellites designed to detect missile launches, track missiles through flight, and provide targeting data through a low-latency communications network in low Earth orbit.
The constellation is expected to support the Trump administration's proposed Golden Dome missile defense initiative by providing space-based missile warning and tracking data, serving as a critical component of a layered homeland defense architecture.
L3Harris has participated in every generation of the SDA Tracking Layer, delivering four Tranche 0 satellites now in orbit and winning contracts for 14 Tranche 1, 18 Tranche 2, and 18 original Tranche 3 spacecraft. The latest agreement brings L3Harris's total Tracking Layer portfolio to 72 satellites. Sierra Space, which joined as a prime contractor in Tranche 2 with an award for 18 satellites, now has 36 satellites under contract across the program.
SDA stated that the expanded constellation will provide "global, persistent indications, detection, identification, warning, tracking, and defense against advanced and evolving missile threats" for the homeland, deployed forces, and allies.