The brief

Analyst view

• SDA builds PWSA, a constellation of hundreds of small satellites for missile warning, communications and data relay.
• Tranche 1 has 154 satellites from York, Lockheed and Northrop; launches resumed July 2026 after a technical pause.
• Using many cheap satellites reduces cost and improves resilience: loss of one satellite has minimal impact.

Technical approach

As reported

Proliferation

Many small satellites

PWSA uses hundreds of small, standardized satellites instead of a few expensive ones. Loss of any satellite has minimal impact.

Tracking layer

Infrared missile detection

Tracking layer satellites detect rocket launches via infrared, providing global watch with no gaps.

Rapid refresh

Frequent launches and upgrades

Standardized, mass-produced satellites enable rapid replacement. New designs deploy in the next tranche.

Multi-contractor

Reduce dependency on single supplier

SDA contracts with York, Lockheed and Northrop, enabling faster build rates and lower costs.

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