Sierra Space Awarded $798 Million Missile Defense Contract in Support of Golden Dome for America

Sierra Space has secured a $798 million Firm Fixed Price Other Transactional Agreement from the Space Development Agency to provide 18 satellites for the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 tracking layer. This contract tasks the company with the design, manufacture, and delivery of advanced missile warning and defense assets to support the Golden Dome for America initiative. The award reinforces Sierra Space’s role as a prime contractor and mission integrator within the U.S. Space Force’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded Sierra Space a total potential value of $798 million to produce 18 satellites dedicated to missile warning, tracking, and defense. These assets are specifically designated for the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) tracking layer, a critical component of the nation's space-based security infrastructure. CEO Dan Jablonsky noted that the contract highlights the company's ability to combine cutting-edge design with industrial depth to deliver cost-effective solutions for national security missions while managing risk more effectively through integrated manufacturing systems.

The 18 AMDT3 satellites will be built upon the Horizon spacecraft platform, which is a member of the Sierra Space Eclipse Satellite Family. This platform is the same one utilized for the company’s existing Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer program, providing a level of technical continuity and proven performance for the SDA. Sierra Space has already completed all 18 space vehicle structure builds for the T2 program and is moving toward qualification testing of the nine-satellite launch configuration this summer, with system verification testing scheduled for later this year.

This award positions Sierra Space as a formidable prime contractor in the rapidly expanding national security space market, directly supporting the Space Development Agency’s role as a constructive disruptor in acquisition. By leveraging the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, the SDA aims to accelerate the delivery of space-based capabilities to joint warfighters for terrestrial missions. The contract underscores a shift toward utilizing agile, defense-tech companies to increase the speed of deployment for critical missile defense systems and preserve freedom of action in the space domain.