Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) has secured a $55 million contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) to serve as the program integrator for the next phase of its low Earth orbit satellite network, the Defense Department announced this week.
Under the five-year agreement, SAIC will provide systems engineering and integration services for Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This satellite constellation is central to the military’s strategy for improving its ability to detect, track, and counter advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons.
The Reston, Virginia-based company will support the deployment and integration of satellites across the Transport, Tracking, and Custody Layers of Tranche 3, ensuring seamless interoperability between space-based assets and ground systems. The Transport Layer focuses on providing secure, low-latency communication links, while the Tracking Layer is designed to monitor high-speed missile threats.
The contract was awarded following a competitive procurement process that received five bids. According to SDA, SAIC’s role will be critical in ensuring all satellite components from various manufacturers function cohesively—a need identified through challenges faced during earlier tranches.
“In past phases, we encountered integration hurdles when satellites from different vendors were brought together,” SDA officials said. “Starting integration efforts from the ground up in Tranche 3 will help ensure a more unified and effective architecture.”
Tranche 3 is expected to consist of roughly 140 Transport Layer satellites and 54 Tracking Layer satellites. The initiative represents a key step in the Department of Defense’s broader effort to build a resilient, distributed space-based defense network capable of responding to evolving global threats.
