The satellites make up the first orbital plane of an 18-satellite contract awarded to Sierra Space under the Tracking Layer initiative, which is designed to detect and track advanced missile threats from low-Earth orbit. The early delivery keeps the program on track for downstream integration, testing and launch preparations.
With the structures now finished, the first nine satellites will move into the assembly, integration and testing phase, where onboard systems, subsystems and payloads will be installed and put through a comprehensive test regime to confirm performance and readiness for deployment.
Sierra Space senior vice president of defence, Erik Daehler, said the result demonstrated the company’s investment in industrial-scale production.
“We established our high-rate manufacturing facility, Victory Works, to meet the demanding requirements of our customer,” Daehler said. “Moving from a successful critical design review to completing the first plane of satellite structures three months early is a strong validation of that approach.”
He said work would now accelerate on integrating the first nine satellites while construction begins on the second plane, completing the full 18-satellite constellation.
John Wagner, vice president of strategy and business development, said the Tracking Layer mission required constant evolution as missile threats advanced.
“We’re scaling our production capacity and pushing ahead with new detection technologies, including the next generation of fire-control missile defence sensors,” he said. “Our facilities, technical depth and delivery record position us well to support the evolving needs of the US Department of Defense and its partners.”
Under the contract, Sierra Space will deliver two orbital planes of satellites equipped with advanced infrared sensors capable of detecting and tracking ballistic, hypersonic and other next-generation missile systems.
The broader Tranche 2 Tracking Layer will comprise 54 satellites, building on the capabilities of Tranche 1 and introducing a subset of spacecraft fitted with fire-control quality infrared sensors. These sensors are designed to generate highly precise tracking data to support early missile defence operations for forces worldwide.
Once fully deployed, the Tracking Layer will operate as part of a larger low-Earth orbit architecture, integrating with the Transport Layer’s low-latency communications network to enable continuous, global missile warning and tracking.
When complete, the Tranche 2 architecture is expected to include around 270 operational Transport and Tracking Layer satellites.
Sierra Space, which has more than three decades of spaceflight experience and has supported over 500 missions, said the early delivery highlighted its ability to blend commercial manufacturing speed with deep defence expertise in support of national security and allied requirements.