- SDA has awarded two AMDT3 OTA prototype agreements
- L3Harris will provide missile defense variant satellites
- The 2026 Air & Space Summit will explore AI, Golden Dome and more
The Space Development Agency has awarded approximately $1.75 billion in prototype agreements to L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space to deliver 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3, or AMDT3, space vehicles for the Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, or PWSA.
The development of next-generation space-based defense capabilities will be among the topics discussed at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air & Space Summit on July 30. SDA Director GP Sandhoo will participate in a panel discussion focused on the pace of military technology advancement. The event will also examine Golden Dome, commercial space relay, artificial intelligence, interoperable optical networks and other emerging priorities. Reserve your seat now!
SDA said Monday the agreements were issued in support of the U.S. Space Force Program Acquisition Executive for Missile Warning and Tracking as part of efforts to expand space-based sensing capabilities in support of Golden Dome for America.
What Is AMDT3?
AMDT3 is an SDA program that expands the Tracking Layer of PWSA by accelerating the deployment of missile warning, missile tracking and missile defense sensors. The AMDT3 awards will add 36 space vehicles across four orbital planes to the Tracking Layer.
The Tracking Layer is a global constellation of missile warning, missile tracking and missile defense satellites and uses infrared sensing payloads integrated with a low-latency communication network to deliver mission data through tactical data links from low Earth orbit.
How Will the Companies Support the Tracking Layer?
The effort includes two firm-fixed-price other transaction authority prototype agreements:
- L3Harris has received an OTA agreement valued at approximately $955 million to provide 18 Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor-like missile defense variant space vehicles across two orbital planes.
- Sierra Space has secured an agreement valued at approximately $798 million to provide 18 missile warning and missile tracking variant space vehicles across two orbital planes.
The space vehicles are expected to be available for launch by the end of 2028. Each AMDT3 spacecraft will be interoperable with SDA’s Tranche 1, Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 space vehicles and will operate through a common ground system.
The Space Force will oversee future operations and sustainment of the AMDT3 capabilities.
What Did SDA Director GP Sandhoo Say About the Awards?
SDA Director GP Sandhoo said the agreements will accelerate the deployment of the Tracking Layer to provide global, persistent indications, detection, identification, warning, tracking, and defense against advanced missile threats.
“AMDT3 expands upon SDA’s previous and current Tracking Layer generations —Tranches 1, 2 & 3 — marking another milestone in delivering a resilient, global missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense capability,” added Sandhoo, who also serves as the Space Force’s PAE for missile warning and tracking.
