Program · United States · Space Development Agency
SDA Tracking Layer
SDA Tracking Layer · Production · Space Development Agency
Updated
ProductionSpace Development Agency
Awarded
—
Across linked awards
Cost to the Government
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 3 | ||
| AMDT3 missile-defense award / satellite · derivedL3Harris $955M / 18 satellites; different payload scope from the headline MW/MT variant. | $53.056MNominal $; source budget basis | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026 |
| LEO program annual RDT&E referenceR-1 PE1206446SF Resilient Missile Warning / Tracking LEO. Annual appropriation, not lifetime development. FY2026 includes listed reconciliation spend-plan funds; FY2027 is requested funding. Shared scope; cannot be attributed solely to this product. | $3.564B / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027 |
| R&D program totalA lifetime program R&D total was not established. Development contracts and shared program budgets are not substituted for that total. | Not established | — |
| Unit costs · 1 | ||
| AMDT3 MW/MT award / satellite · derivedSierra Space $798M agreement divided by 18 missile-warning/tracking satellites. Contract-scope average, not a recurring bare-spacecraft price, launch price or lifecycle cost. Different from the missile-defense variant. | $44.333MNominal $; source budget basis | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026 |
| Quantities · 2 | ||
| T3 + accelerated T3 awarded satellites72 original T3 plus 36 accelerated T3 satellites. Derived sum of announced awards; excludes prior tranches and is not operational inventory. | 108U.S. only; stated source scope | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure December 2025 and July 2026 awards · +1 more |
| U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count. | Not established | — |
| Operating costs · 1 | ||
| Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures. | Not established | — |
Program totals · 3
- AMDT3 missile-defense award / satellite · derivedL3Harris $955M / 18 satellites; different payload scope from the headline MW/MT variant.36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026$53.056MNominal $; source budget basis
- LEO program annual RDT&E referenceR-1 PE1206446SF Resilient Missile Warning / Tracking LEO. Annual appropriation, not lifetime development. FY2026 includes listed reconciliation spend-plan funds; FY2027 is requested funding. Shared scope; cannot be attributed solely to this product.FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027$3.564B / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- R&D program totalA lifetime program R&D total was not established. Development contracts and shared program budgets are not substituted for that total.Source not recordedNot established
Unit costs · 1
- AMDT3 MW/MT award / satellite · derivedSierra Space $798M agreement divided by 18 missile-warning/tracking satellites. Contract-scope average, not a recurring bare-spacecraft price, launch price or lifecycle cost. Different from the missile-defense variant.36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026$44.333MNominal $; source budget basis
Quantities · 2
- T3 + accelerated T3 awarded satellites72 original T3 plus 36 accelerated T3 satellites. Derived sum of announced awards; excludes prior tranches and is not operational inventory.36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure December 2025 and July 2026 awards · +1 more108U.S. only; stated source scope
- U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.Source not recordedNot established
Operating costs · 1
- Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.Source not recordedNot established
Earlier observations · 6
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LEO program annual RDT&E reference1 | $1.698B / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027 |
| LEO program annual RDT&E reference1 | $1.695B / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 total enacted / spend plan · PB2027 |
| LEO program annual RDT&E reference1 | $3.564B / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027 |
| Original T0 two-contract aggregateSum of $149,175,246 SpaceX and $193,599,342 L3Harris awards for the first eight Tracking Layer satellites. Historical award scope, not lifecycle expenditure. | $342.775MNominal $; source budget basis | First Tracking Layer contract awards, October 5, 2020 Space Development Agency · figure Oct 5, 2020 |
| T3 original award aggregate · approximatelyRounded aggregate for 72 satellites; includes delivery and operation scope. Not a program lifetime cost. | $3.5BNominal $; source budget basis | 72 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite awards, December 19, 2025 Space Development Agency · figure Dec 19, 2025 |
| Accelerated T3 award aggregate · approximatelyRounded aggregate for 36 additional satellites, not a replacement for the original 72-satellite award. | $1.75BNominal $; source budget basis | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026 |
- LEO program annual RDT&E reference1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027$1.698B / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- LEO program annual RDT&E reference1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 total enacted / spend plan · PB2027$1.695B / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- LEO program annual RDT&E reference1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027$3.564B / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- Original T0 two-contract aggregateSum of $149,175,246 SpaceX and $193,599,342 L3Harris awards for the first eight Tracking Layer satellites. Historical award scope, not lifecycle expenditure.First Tracking Layer contract awards, October 5, 2020 Space Development Agency · figure Oct 5, 2020$342.775MNominal $; source budget basis
- T3 original award aggregate · approximatelyRounded aggregate for 72 satellites; includes delivery and operation scope. Not a program lifetime cost.72 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite awards, December 19, 2025 Space Development Agency · figure Dec 19, 2025$3.5BNominal $; source budget basis
- Accelerated T3 award aggregate · approximatelyRounded aggregate for 36 additional satellites, not a replacement for the original 72-satellite award.36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026$1.75BNominal $; source budget basis
1R-1 PE1206446SF Resilient Missile Warning / Tracking LEO. Annual appropriation, not lifetime development. FY2026 includes listed reconciliation spend-plan funds; FY2027 is requested funding. Shared scope; cannot be attributed solely to this product.
Satellite contracts omit important system costs
GAO identifies uncertainty in lifecycle costs and notes that its per-satellite price comparisons include contractor-specific ground support and software but exclude launches. Tracking and Transport Layer spending must not be combined as if every satellite were a tracking sensor.
Missile warning satellites: delivery risks and cost transparency, January 2026 Government Accountability Office
Contracts & purchasing · 6
Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.
| Buyer → seller | Status | Value | Qty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Development Agency → Lockheed MartinT3 satellite delivery and operation scope. The four awards are components of the approximately $3.5B announcement, not additional to it. | Firm-fixed-price OTA · total potential value | $1.1B | 18 | 72 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite awards, December 19, 2025 Space Development Agency · figure Dec 19, 2025 |
| Space Development Agency → Rocket LabT3 satellite delivery and operation scope. The four awards are components of the approximately $3.5B announcement, not additional to it. | Firm-fixed-price OTA · total potential value | $805M | 18 | 72 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite awards, December 19, 2025 Space Development Agency · figure Dec 19, 2025 |
| Space Development Agency → Northrop GrummanT3 satellite delivery and operation scope. The four awards are components of the approximately $3.5B announcement, not additional to it. | Firm-fixed-price OTA · total potential value | $764M | 18 | 72 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite awards, December 19, 2025 Space Development Agency · figure Dec 19, 2025 |
| Space Development Agency → L3HarrisT3 satellite delivery and operation scope. The four awards are components of the approximately $3.5B announcement, not additional to it. | Firm-fixed-price OTA · total potential value | $843M | 18 | 72 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite awards, December 19, 2025 Space Development Agency · figure Dec 19, 2025 |
| Space Development Agency → L3HarrisMissile defense satellite variant. Future operations and sustainment assigned to the Space Force; not an observed annual operating cost. | Accelerated T3 prototype agreement | $955M | 18 | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026 |
| Space Development Agency → Sierra SpaceMissile warning/tracking satellite variant. Future operations and sustainment assigned to the Space Force; not an observed annual operating cost. | Accelerated T3 prototype agreement | $798M | 18 | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure Jul 13, 2026 |
International buyers · 1
| Country | Qty | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesTwo award cohorts, not launched or operational satellite counts. | 108 | T3 and accelerated T3 awards | 36 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 satellite awards, July 13, 2026 Space Development Agency · figure 2025–2026 · +1 more |
Open research: Current U.S. inventory and complete annual operating-and-support costs require additional public evidence. Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.
No participants, contracts or systems recorded for this program yet.