L3Harris Completes Design Review of Hypersonic Threats Tracking Satellites

L3Harris Technologies has completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for 18 space vehicles in the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program.

According to L3Harris' report, the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) confirms that their space vehicles, designed to detect, track, and target hypersonic threats, meet the development requirements of the Space Development Agency (SDA) program.

Ed Zoiss, President of Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris, stated, “L3Harris is committed to supporting SDA’s vision for real-time missile tracking. We completed the PDR in 11 months and have received key flight subsystems for our Tranche 2 vehicles, offering an innovative solution against evolving threats.”

In January 2024, L3Harris received an SDA contract to design and build 18 space vehicles with infrared payloads for the T2 Tracking Layer, supporting the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This architecture is a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit providing near-global missile warning, tracking, and defense.

L3Harris has received multiple SDA contracts under the PWSA, including 38 satellites across Tranche 0, 1, and 2. Tranche 0 satellites are already operational. As part of its Trusted Disruptor strategy, L3Harris also supports hypersonic systems with various missile technologies, including scramjets, ramjets, rocket motors, and warheads.