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L3Harris, Sierra Space Win $1.75B Satellite Contracts

July 13, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

L3Harris and Sierra Space awarded $1.75B contracts for 36 satellites.
Satellites to expand US missile-tracking network in low Earth orbit.
Launches scheduled by end of 2028.
Contracts support Pentagon's effort to build large network of satellites.

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Strategic Implications

This award may indicate the US Space Force's growing emphasis on space-based missile defense capabilities. The expansion of the Tracking Layer suggests a shift towards more comprehensive and persistent monitoring of missile threats, which could enhance the country's defense posture and may set a precedent for future satellite procurements.

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What Happened

US Space Force Expands Missile-Tracking Network With New Satellites

The US Space Force’s Space Development Agency has awarded contracts worth about $1.75 billion to L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space to build 36 satellites for the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 program. The satellites are scheduled to be available for launch by the end of 2028 and will expand the Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The awards mark another step in the Pentagon’s effort to build a large network of low Earth orbit satellites capable of detecting, tracking, and helping defend against ballistic and hypersonic missile threats. The contracts were first reported by SpaceNews.

Source | Originally Published: July 13, 2024

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