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The CDR milestone demonstrates that L3Harris’ design will meet the mission requirements, while the PRR provides L3Harris with the SDA’s approval to begin the full production process. These major milestones move the program closer to achieving the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) – a resilient, layered network of military satellites in low-Earth orbit.

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L3Harris’ infrared and data processing technology plays a mission-critical role on several of the United States’ key missile warning and defense satellite programs, including the SDA's T1TRK program. Image: © 2023 L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 

Hypersonic missiles are the most destabilizing kinetic weapons in our adversaries' arsenals due to their dim flight profiles, varied launch points and high maneuverability. To deter their use and, when needed, to defeat them, the United States requires a resilient sensor platform to remove the veil from their flight paths. 

The cornerstone of L3Harris’ Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TRK) are infrared sensors and advanced algorithms that detect, track and fuse threat data which is provided real-time to the warfighter across a meshed network using both optical and RF communications. From the ground, the space vehicles can be commanded to a range of pointing modes that provide additional insight into threat tracks. The program includes supporting ground, operations and sustainment throughout its life.  

To meet launch schedule commitments, L3Harris started fabrication of critical sub-assemblies well before the CDR. With the CDR and PRR in the rearview, the team has successfully transitioned to the assembly and integration phase, coordinating closely with more than 20 major subcontractors and dozens of suppliers who provide critical parts for the satellites and the ground systems.

It’s a challenge that L3Harris’ Director of Program Management Bob De Cort understands well. He’s leading the team that’s designing and developing 16 missile-tracking satellites for the program. 

Aligning closely to De Cort’s often-repeated mantra of “iterate, integrate, repeat,” the L3Harris T1TRK team recently steered the project through the two crucial milestones. Slated for launch in 2025, the satellites feature advanced technology designed to counter the fastest most maneuverable hypersonic missiles. 

“L3Harris is working in lockstep with the SDA to get these critical capabilities on-orbit and into the hands of the nation’s warfighters as quickly as possible,” De Cort said. “The SDA takes a fundamentally fresh and different approach than traditional defense contracting. Rather than investing schedule and funds in single point solutions, the SDA acquisition plan breaks from tradition to use spiral development leveraging interoperable commercial technologies to deploy tranches of satellites every couple of years.”

De Cort continued, “Our recent success at CDR and PRR show that we are the leading partner within SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, demonstrating not just missile warning and tracking but the beyond line of sight targeting that the warfighters need to enhance America's strategic deterrence from space."