A rendering of the Space Development Agency constellation providing missile warning and tracking. Photo: Raytheon Technologies

Mynaric will supply Raytheon Technologies with optical communication terminals for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program under a deal announced Wednesday. 

Raytheon is building seven satellites for the SDA, and each satellite will feature three Mynaric Condor Mk3 terminals, for a total of 21 laser terminals. Product deliveries are expected in 2024. 

The seven-vehicle satellite constellation will feature Raytheon’s Wide Field of View overhead persistent infrared sensor, and technology from two of Raytheon’s previous acquisitions — Blue Canyon Technologies‘ Saturn-class microsatellite bus, and Seakr Engineering’s electronics payload. Raytheon received the $250 million award in February of this year. 

The Tranche 1 Tracking Layer will detect, identify, and track hypersonic weapons. It will become the fifth plane of satellites providing missile warning and tracking for the U.S. Department of Defense. 

“Our entire team is proud to support Raytheon Technologies and the SDA on this critical national defense program,” said Tina Ghataore, chief commercial officer of Mynaric. “We have signaled to the market that our team works collaboratively with our customers to deliver industry-leading products that meet the SDA standards and requirements for interoperability.”

Mynaric has won a number of subcontracts to supply optical terminal for SDA, with Northrop Grumman for both the Transport and Tracking layers, and with Loft Federal for the Experimental Testbed.