A rendering of the first generation of the Tracking Layer. Photo: Space Development Agency

Maxar Technologies has won a new contract with L3Harris Technologies for the design and production of 14 spacecraft platforms and associated support for its Tranche 1 Tracking Layer contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA). The company announced the deal Aug. 9.

The SDA selected L3Harris as a prime for its Tranche 1 Tracking Layer as part of the initial Missile Warning/Missile Tracking warfighting capability of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) in July. Tranche 1 Tracking Layer will provide limited global indications, warning and tracking of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.

With this contract, Maxar will provide a foundation for the integration of various mission payloads, including optical terminals for space mesh networking, Ka-band communications, and infrared sensors. Additionally, it will provide related ground, operations and sustainment support. Maxar will manufacture the platforms at its factories in Palo Alto and San Jose, California, for delivery in 2024, and launches are scheduled to begin in April 2025.

“Maxar is proud to support L3Harris on this critical SDA mission that highlights our expanding national security capabilities. This program demonstrates that Maxar is primed to handle a diverse set of missions, and it exemplifies how our technology and experience are optimized to bring rapidly deployed, proliferated LEO constellations to market,” Chris Johnson, Maxar senior vice president and general manager of Space, said in a statement.