# SDA awards L3Harris and Northrop Grumman about $1.3B for 28 Tranche 1 missile-tracking satellites

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/sda-awards-l3harris-and-northrop-grumman-about-1-3b-for-28-tranche-1-42156892
Date: 18 Jul 2022
About: [Space Development Agency](https://technooptimist.io/companies/space-development-agency.md) · [Tracking Layer](https://technooptimist.io/spaceflight/tracking-layer.md)
Original source: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/sda-awards-1-3b-to-l3harris-and-northrop-grumman-for-28-missile-tracking-satellites/

The Space Development Agency awarded Tranche 1 Tracking Layer contracts: 14 low-orbit infrared satellites each from L3Harris ($700M) and Northrop Grumman. The satellites are meant to detect and follow missiles, including maneuvering hypersonic gliders. With four launches and ground systems, the tranche was put at about $2.5 billion, with launches to start in April 2025.

## Key facts

- Four orbital planes of seven satellites each.
- About $50M per satellite for L3Harris and $44M for Northrop.
- Contracts were signed about 120 days after Congress added the money.
- New tranches every two years; satellites last about five years.

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