SDA’s data relay, missile tracking networks to be operational by end of 2025: Tournear
"By the end of next year, we'll have 126 Link 16 satellites that are operational on orbit," said SDA Director Derek Tournear.
SDA requests nearly $4.3B for FY25, slight drop from last year
SDA is asking for $357 million for FY25 launch services, down from the nearly $530 million in FY24. Those funds would pay to manifest four planned launches of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer satellites in 2027.
Space Force takes ‘acceptable’ cut to $29.4B in FY25 budget request
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall explained that the "small decrease in the number for the Space Force" isn't itself quite reflective of reality, as there are mitigating circumstances that lessen the blow.
Space Force vice chief says failure on continuing resolution could cost service up to $3.9B
Gen. Michael Guetlein said that the service is "looking at losing about seven" of the 10 launches it planned under the National Security Space Launch program in FY24 if the CR is prolonged.
Space Force agencies pile on to find ‘alternate PNT’ capabilities
Space Force's primary acquisition command, Space Systems Command (SSC), is seeking industry input on the possibility of building smaller, lighter and cheaper GPS satellites.
‘Real threat’: Budget impasse drags down 2 key satellite solicitations, more programs at risk
“We need a budget to be able to continue to fund this,” said Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear. “We always assume there will be a continuing resolution for a few months, but not six to 12.”
SDA, MDA missile tracking demonstration payloads blast off
The agencies said in their joint announcement that the "launch of the two prototype systems will be followed by two years of on-orbit testing."
The Pentagon’s next satellite launch is a test for missile defense’s future
In this op-ed, Masao Dahlgren discusses the launch of a forthcoming missile-tracking satellite constellation and what can be learned from it.
GEOST to provide Sierra Space missile tracking/fire control payloads for SDA effort
While GEOST has made infrared sensors for classified systems in the ones and twos, the new contract will involve building infrared sensors designed to be used in a larger constellation, LightRidge CEO Bill Gattle told Breaking Defense.
Northrop Grumman logs billion-dollar charge on B-21 stealth bomber
Chief Executive Officer Kathy Warden said that despite cost growth for the company’s Sentinel ICBM program, the company’s “near-term assumptions” of its sales and profitability are not “materially impacted.”
SDA’s latest Tracking Layer contract includes 6 ‘fire control’ sats
An SDA official explained that the six "preliminary fire control" satellites in Tracking Layer Tranche 2 will carry a mix of wide-field-of-view and medium-field-of-view infrared cameras.
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Optical communications, i.e. lasers, are the network pipes for the Internet of Space
A new constellation with laser comms and compatibility with the Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture is now taking shape.
For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review
The Space Force has made some visible progress in its "pivot" towards resiliency, but acquisition reform remains a hard slog.
DoD needs near-term, ‘persistent’ INDOPACOM hypersonic missile tracking: CSIS
"The key word here is persistence," study author Masao Dahlgren told Breaking Defense. "How do we get persistence over the regions we care about? That hasn't been as explicitly put into prior work until now. This report puts into sharp relief."
Space Development Agency, Army cooperating on alternates to GPS sat signals
SDA Director Derek Tournear said next year his organization will begin launching the Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for regional communications, which also will carry a "navigation message" embedded in their venerable Link 16 data links.