[ad_1]
The two companies won tenders to build Stretch 0 of the tracking layer for the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA), he said.
L3Harris Technologies and Florida-based SpaceX, Hawthorne, California, are expected to build four persistent infrared imaging (OPIR) satellites for the NDSA tracking layer, the Space Development Agency (SDA) said. The satellites should be ready by the end of fiscal year 2022.
“The satellites will be able to provide missile tracking data for hypersonic drift vehicles and the next generation of advanced missile threats,” said SDA Director Derek Tournear.
“L3Harris and SpaceX will build satellites of their own design, but that meet the criteria established by the SDA. Everyone must be able to perform the missile tracking mission and then also be able to communicate directly with the transport layer satellites via the laser communications link. “
This most recent contract award is the second for the NDSA development, Tournear said. About a month ago, he said, contracts were awarded for transport layer satellites. Those contracts were for Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems. Each of these companies will build ten satellites. Span 0, he said, consists of 28 transport layer satellites and 8 tracking layer satellites. Tournear said there will be a separate request to launch those 28 satellites.
Ultimately, Tournear said, there will be hundreds of satellites that will make up the NDSA.
Leg 1, which expires in 2024, will include a couple hundred satellites in the transport layer and a few dozen in the tracking layer. With Tranche 2, in 2026, SDA would continue to develop the system as needed. By then, Tournear said, the SDA would have global coverage, ensuring that the capabilities provided by the NDSA could be available to fighters anywhere in the world.
[ad_2]
