Lockheed Martin Selects Terran Orbital to Provide Satellite Bus for Tranche 3 Missile Tracking Satellites

Terran Orbital has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide satellite bus platforms for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer (T3TRK) under the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), reinforcing the industrial backbone behind the United States’ next-generation missile warning and tracking capability.

Under the program, Lockheed Martin will deliver 18 space vehicles designed to provide missile warning, precision tracking, and missile defense support for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer. Terran Orbital will supply the satellite buses, the structural and avionics backbone of each spacecraft, enabling rapid manufacturing, integration, and deployment in line with SDA’s aggressive timelines.

The Tranche 3 Tracking Layer is a critical expansion of SDA’s ability to detect, track, and generate fire-control-quality data against advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons. By operating as a proliferated constellation in low Earth orbit, the system is designed to deliver persistent, global coverage while enhancing resilience against disruption. Terran Orbital’s flight-proven bus architectures and high-rate manufacturing model are central to meeting these operational and schedule demands.

This award builds on a multi-tranche collaboration between Terran Orbital and Lockheed Martin across the SDA Tracking Layer program. Terran Orbital has previously supported Lockheed Martin on Tranche 0, Tranche 1, Tranche 2 Tracking, and Tranche 2 Beta, supplying satellite buses that have contributed to successful development, production, and on-orbit performance across multiple deployment phases.

“Being selected by Lockheed Martin for the Tranche 3 Tracking Layer is a testament to the performance, scalability, and reliability of our satellite bus platforms,” said Peter Krauss, President and CEO of Terran Orbital. “Our continued collaboration from Tranche 0 through Tranche 3 reflects a shared commitment to rapid delivery, mission assurance, and providing the warfighter with resilient, next-generation space capabilities.”

Terran Orbital’s role in Tranche 3 further strengthens its position within the national security space ecosystem, highlighting its ability to support large-scale, proliferated constellations through vertically integrated manufacturing and a maturing supply chain aligned with SDA’s long-term objectives.