The Space Development Agency (SDA) has issued multiple RFIs for Tranche 3 Tracking updates to the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a layered network of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that provides space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter. The T3 layer will update the PWSA’s current Tranche 2 PWSA architecture and bolster the nation’s missile defense system.
In the last week of January of this year, the SDA announced that it is seeking industry feedback on a variety of PWSA solicitations. These solicitations were focused on the PWSA’s tracking layer, which provides global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of missile threats, and its transport layer, which ensures low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide.
Draft Solicitations for Tranche 3 Updates
- Tranche 3 Tracking Layer Revitalization: The SDA is seeking to strengthen the capabilities of the PWSA’s tracking layer, including its missile defense capabilities. The draft solicitation calls for proposals for the procurement of 52 space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors comprising a network of more than 100 SVs in low Earth orbit across multiple planes. These updates are intended to improve system coverage, sensitivity, and accuracy within the PWSA network.
- Update to the Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) Standard: In order to reduce risk as the PWSA transport layer transitions from T2 to T3 architecture, the SDA is seeking industry feedback on developing an intermediate version between v3.1.0 and v4.0.0 of the OCT standard. Version 3.2.0 would include critical updates from v3.1.0 not covered in v4.0.0, ensuring systemwide compliance and connectivity. This intermediate version would also be the standard for the Tranche 3 architecture, eventually transitioning to v4.0.0.
- Development of a Tranche 3 Transport Layer Upsilon Variant: SDA has issued a request for information on the development of a variant to its Tranch 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) space vehicles. The agency has specifically called for the deployment of 40 Tranche 3 Transport Layer Upsilon (T3TLu) variant vehicles divided amongst four orbital planes equipped with Tranch 3 OCTs. These vehicle updates are in line with the goals of overarching updates to PWSA architecture, namely advancing defense, data, and PNT capabilities.
Investments in space-based warfighting capabilities have become increasingly pertinent with the advent of advanced missile threats, such as hypersonic missile threats. Tranch 3 updates to the PWSA reassert the SDA’s commitment towards protecting the United States from terrestrial threats using innovative technologies.