The new fleet of satellites, designated for the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3), will leverage the existing Horizon spacecraft design. This platform is already in use for the company’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program, where Sierra Space has completed the structural assembly of all 18 vehicles. Qualification testing for the initial nine-satellite configuration is scheduled for this summer, with follow-up system verification planned for later in the year.

CEO Dan Jablonsky stated that the contract underscores the firm’s ability to integrate industrial manufacturing with rapid mission delivery. By utilizing the proven Eclipse satellite family, the company aims to reduce risk and cost while supporting the Golden Dome initiative. The Space Development Agency, acting as a specialized acquisition arm of the U.S. Space Force, continues to prioritize these satellite networks to enhance terrestrial mission support and space-based defense capabilities.