SDA adds new prime vendor for proliferated warfighter architecture

The Space Development Agency is bringing a new prime vendor into the mix as it builds out its giant constellation of next-generation satellites in low-Earth orbit.

Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems — a Terran Orbital company based in Irvine, California — is one of two contractors selected to build Gamma variant platforms for tranche two of the data transport layer of the Pentagon’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), the agency announced Friday.

Tyvak was awarded a prototype agreement with a total value of approximately $254 million to build and operate 10 platforms, according to a release.

Denver-based York Space Systems, which was already doing prime vendor work for the agency, was also awarded a prototype agreement with a total value of about $170 million to build and operate 10 satellites.

Launches are slated to begin in late fiscal 2027.

SDA is once again using other transaction authority to get companies on contract. It received eight bids for the tranche two gamma variant before picking the winners, according to the agency.

“With these T2TL – Gamma awards, we are closing out the hardware procurement phase for Tranche 2 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture to support delivery beginning in 2026 to achieve our full warfighting capability,” SDA Director Derek Tournear said in a statement. “The T2TL – Gamma space vehicles will demonstrate global communications access and operationalize persistent global encrypted connectivity to support missions like beyond line of sight targeting.”

The PWSA is expected to eventually include hundreds of satellites stationed in low-Earth orbit. SDA is deploying them in successive batches known as tranches. The architecture includes a data transport layer and a missile warning and missile-tracking layer.

The architecture is a key component of the Pentagon’s future warfighting construct known as Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), a departmentwide effort to better connect the data streams, sensors and shooters of the U.S. military services and key allies and partners under a more unified, fast-moving network.

The data layer will comprise satellites across three different configurations called Alpha, Beta and Gamma, respectively, that have common baseline mission payloads but provide different capabilities. According to a solicitation issued earlier this year, the Gamma variants will be uniquely equipped with the secretive Warlock mission payload that is “specifically designed to close future kill chains.”

SDA previously awarded contracts to Northrop Grumman and York Space Systems for the Alpha variants of tranche two, and to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Rocket Lab National Security for the Beta variants.