The U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded $424 million in contracts to develop the final 20 satellites for its constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites.
York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems are the winners of the latest spending by SDA – respectively earning contracts for $170 million and $254 million, according to an Aug. 16 announcement.
Satellites produced under the latest contract will be the final satellites joining SDA’s Tranche 2 as part of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The PWSA aims to provide an internet in space that can move data between satellites and communicate information to military systems on the ground, at sea, and in flight.
PWSA is comprised of three tranches, with Tranche 0 demonstrating the ability to send and receive large amounts of data between satellites and transmit data to ground forces. Tranche 1 will access and deliver “persistent regional encrypted connectivity” to support global warfighter missions, and Tranche 2 will “replenish and enhance” the capabilities of Tranche 1 by increasing the number of satellites and introducing new tactical data links and new waveforms.
“With these T2TL – Gamma awards, we are closing out the hardware procurement phase for Tranche 2 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture to support delivery beginning in 2026 to achieve our full warfighting capability,” Derek Tournear, SDA’s director, said in a release.
“The T2TL – Gamma space vehicles will demonstrate global communications access and operationalize persistent global encrypted connectivity to support missions like beyond line of sight targeting,” he continued.
The PWSA is divided between two “layers,” with some satellites developed for missile warning and tracking, and others for data transport and communications. The 20 satellites named in SDA’s latest contract announcement will be for data transportation.
The latest Tranche 2 satellites are scheduled to be ready for launch by the end of 2027. SDA said it plans to have more than 450 satellites launched by the end of 2029. Currently, there are 27 satellites in orbit as part of Tranche 0 with 19 serving transport purposes and eight providing missile warnings.
