Space Development Agency will launch an industry that will conduct research into how its organization’s burgeoning fighter space architecture (PWSA) can be integrated into President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to boost missile defense in his hometown. I’m looking for it.
On Wednesday, SDA announced a solicitation for an “executive summary” from vendors interested in conducting a 60-day study focused on leveraging PWSA and other capabilities in the “Iron and Dome for America.” did. The threat of enemy missiles. Trump’s executive order on capabilities, issued January 27th, envisages a modernized multi-layer missile defense stance that leans heavily towards space-based systems, including the PWSA.
According to the solicitation, SDA will be executives of “new architecture concepts, systems, technologies, and features” to accelerate future PWSA tranches and create new functional layers to address other new requirements. I’m interested in the summary.
“SDA is recruiting executive summary to investigate and provide recommendations for iron and oscillators for American architecture. These studies provide concepts of architecture and how PWSAs can contribute. “We will let the SDA know about this,” the document states.
Trump has appointed the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy that includes a “reference architecture, capability-based requirements, and implementation plans” and to reach the president by March 28th.
The directive calls for the development of new space-based interceptors, but it also promotes continued efforts, such as “developing and deploying custody rights after proliferating fighter space architecture.”
The PWSA is a planned megaconnection that includes hundreds of satellites located in low-Earth orbit, with a transport layer for data relays and communication payloads and a tracking layer for missile warning and tracking sensors. This program is led by the SDA. SDA plans to release satellites every two years with “Tranche.”
Trump’s executive order gives agents a green light to develop and deploy a custody layer within the PWSA architecture. Tracking sensors focus on detecting potential missile threats and providing early warnings, but the custody layer maintains continuous surveillance on specific targets in “launch” missile defenses .
Part of the agency’s ongoing efforts have already developed custody layer functions, including experimental fire control for the Orbit and Combat Fighter program and gamma variants for the Tranche 2 transport layer of SDA . However, the new appeal for the industry is taking it a step further by calling for “an opportunity to accelerate new, technologically mature phenomenology to the PWSA custody and tracking layers.”
The solicitation refers to sensors deployed to sensors deployed to the constellations of demonstration satellites developed by missile defense agencies launched last year, and high-speed truck Hi-sonic and ballistic tracking space sensors (HBTSS) on the tracking layer of PWSA. You are requesting input regarding the feature.
The SDA then decided to employ the same type of sensor, which uses a high fidelity medium field of view camera, suitable for sending targeting data to the interceptor, in part of the payload of the tracking layer.
Meanwhile, the MDA last month published its own request for information that similarly demanded industry feedback on how it could contribute to India’s Iron Dome. This document asked the industry to provide “new system-level features, component concepts, upgrades to existing features, or new (operational concepts) details that can be delivered or demonstrated over a two-year period. By the end of 2026.
The MDA’s RFI refers to the boundaries of efforts outlined in Trump’s executive orders, such as the acceleration and deployment of the HBTSS. However, it does not specify whether it means a subsequent program to operate the constellations or development of new midfield cameras deployed on other satellites.
At a posture hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, the head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and General Gregory Guillott of the U.S. Northern Command will accurately track the HBTSS on Hypernic Missiles It has been emphasized as an important system for
“We already have some capabilities to detect intercontinental ballistic missiles, but because of the ballistic profile they can be tracked fairly easily,” Guillott said. “Hypersonics are maneuverable and much faster, so it’s essential to get a space-based ability to detect and track what could ultimately queue a defeat mechanism.”
SDA’s industry appeal also outlines six other potential topics for 60-day research. High fidelity modeling, simulation and analysis capabilities. Optimization of the transport layer of PWSAs to support missile defense. Supply Chain Analysis; Space and Ground Architecture. The widespread use of sensor data processing on orbit, the fusion of multi-sensor tracks, and the low latency. A software solution that enables autonomous satellite operation.
According to the solicitation, the agency is considering awarding multiple vendors to conduct the research and “strongly encouragement” to submit by February 28th.
Written by Mikayla Easley
Mikayla Easley reports on the acquisition and use of emerging technologies in the Pentagon. Prior to joining Defensscoop, he covered the national security and defense industry of national defense magazines. She received her bachelor’s degree in Russian and literature from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. You can follow her on Twitter @mikaylaeasley
