The Right Approach: The End of an Era—DoD Proposes MIL-PRF-31032 Cancellation
Beyond the Board: How a Diminished Supplier Base Affects Complex PCB Manufacturing Readiness in Defense
Defense Speak Interpreted: Hypersonics Report Back After Six Years of Silence
Terran Orbital Selected by Lockheed Martin to Provide Satellite Buses for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer
December 31, 2025 | BUSINESS WIREEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Terran Orbital, a leading manufacturer of small satellites primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, announced that it has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide satellite buses for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer (T3TRK) under the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
Under the program, Lockheed Martin will deliver 18 missile-warning, tracking, and defense space vehicles for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer. Terran Orbital will supply the satellite bus platforms that form the structural and avionics backbone of the space vehicles, enabling rapid production and deployment to support SDA’s mission of delivering global, persistent missile-tracking capabilities.
The Tranche 3 Tracking Layer expands SDA’s ability to detect, track, and provide fire-control-quality data on advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons, through a proliferated constellation in low Earth orbit. Terran Orbital’s high-rate manufacturing approach and flight-proven satellite bus designs will support the accelerated production timelines required for the program.
This selection continues collaboration between Terran Orbital and Lockheed Martin across multiple phases of the SDA Tracking Layer. Terran Orbital has previously supported Lockheed Martin on SDA’s Tranche 0, Tranche 1, Tranche 2 Tracking, and Tranche 2 Beta, providing satellite buses that have contributed to the successful development, production, and on-orbit performance of these constellations.
“Being selected by Lockheed Martin for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer is a testament to the performance, scalability, and reliability of our satellite bus platforms,” said Peter Krauss, President and CEO of Terran Orbital. “Our continued collaboration across Tranche 0 through Tranche 3 reflects a shared commitment to rapid delivery, mission assurance, and providing the warfighter with resilient, next-generation space capabilities.”
Terran Orbital’s role on T3 Tracking Layer further reinforces its position as a supplier to the national security space community and its ability to support large-scale, proliferated constellations through vertically integrated manufacturing and a maturing supply chain aligned with SDA’s objectives.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Sierra Space Completes First Nine Tranche 2 Tracking Satellites Ahead of Schedule
01/07/2026 | BUSINESS WIRESierra Space, a proven defense-tech company delivering solutions for the nation’s most critical missions and advancing the future of security in space, announced the completion of the first nine satellite structures, Plane 1 of the 18 total satellites Sierra Space is contracted to deliver for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer (T2TRK) program.
SAIC Awarded New $55 Million Mission Integration Contract From Space Development Agency
05/05/2025 | SAICScience Applications International Corp. has been awarded the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 3 Program Integration (T3PI) contract from the Space Development Agency (SDA).
Teledyne Delivers 100th Infrared Detector for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer
03/06/2025 | TeledyneTeledyne Technologies Incorporated, a leading provider of advanced imaging solutions, is proud to announce its continuing pattern of on-time and early deliveries for the Space Development Agency's (SDA) proliferated constellation.
Terran Orbital’s Tyvak Awarded $254M Prototype Agreement for Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma
08/20/2024 | BUSINESS WIRETyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc., Irvine, California, a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, is proud to announce it has been chosen by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to produce 10 satellites for the Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma contract.
Space Development Agency Awards L3Harris $919 Million Contract to Build Satellites for Missile Tracking Program
01/17/2024 | BUSINESS WIREL3Harris Technologies received a contract with a potential value of up to $919 million to design and build 18 infrared space vehicles for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer program that will provide near-global missile warning and tracking coverage.