L3Harris and Sierra Space Win SDA Contract for Missile Tracking Satellites

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. and Sierra Space have secured a contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) to supply 36 missile tracking satellites. The award is part of the agency’s effort to build a proliferated low Earth orbit constellation designed to detect and track advanced missile threats.

The satellites will contribute to the SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer. This layer of the architecture utilizes infrared sensors to provide global coverage and warning against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. L3Harris, which operates through its Space & Mission Systems (SMS) segment, will leverage its experience in space sensor payloads and bus integration to support the program.

Following the announcement, shares of L3Harris rose 5.41% to $299.67, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $52.96 billion. The movement reflects the material nature of the contract for the aerospace and defense contractor, which provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers.

Work on the satellites will involve the integration of sensor technologies capable of detecting heat signatures from launch vehicles. The SDA’s approach involves launching smaller, cheaper satellites in larger numbers to improve resilience against potential system failures or attacks in the space domain.

What to watch

• Contract value and specific allocation of the 36 satellites between the two prime contractors.
• Production timelines and expected launch dates for the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer.
• Upcoming earnings reports from L3Harris for updated guidance on the Space & Mission Systems segment.

Source: original release