Terran Orbital Chosen by Lockheed Martin for SDA Satellite Buses Contract
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 14, 2024

Terran Orbital has been selected by Lockheed Martin to produce 18 satellite buses for the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer contract. Lockheed Martin will supply the SDA with 16 wide field-of-view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors and two vehicles with missile defense infrared sensors capable of generating fire control-quality tracks. Each T2 Tracking Layer satellite built by Lockheed Martin will include a Terran Orbital bus.

"We're proud to once again be selected as the trusted space vehicle provider for Lockheed Martin, especially for the SDA's critical tracking mission," said Marc Bell, Terran Orbital's Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. "This continued partnership signifies the confidence Lockheed Martin places in Terran Orbital's capabilities. We are excited to leverage our expertise and deliver these advanced space vehicles to support the SDA's mission objectives."

These space vehicles will be manufactured at Terran Orbital's robotic space vehicle manufacturing facilities in California. This award highlights Terran Orbital's focus on innovation and establishes the company as a significant player in building next-generation proliferated warfighting constellations.

The T2 Tracking Layer aims to enhance the ability to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, and tracking of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems. It will also offer preliminary missile defense capabilities by incorporating fire control quality sensors in the constellation.

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