The U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) wants to buy 20 Tranche 2, Transport Layer (T2TL)-Gamma satellites with advanced tactical data links, and the agency is requiring that any company wishing to win have “at least one nontraditional U.S. defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project,” according to a Dec. 4 draft solicitation.
“The government expects to make T2TL-Gamma awards to a single vendor, subject to available funding,” SDA said. “Each offeror shall propose to develop 20 SVs [space vehicles], along with the associated ground systems and operations and sustainment capability.”
While SDA had planned on 44 T2TL-Gamma satellites, SDA Director Derek Tournear told Silicon Valley Space Week’s Milsat Symposium in October that the requirement is now 24 Gamma satellites, as SDA was in discussions with a third, possible Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta vendor to put the advanced tactical data link on 24 additional Beta satellites (Defense Daily, Oct. 30). Defense Daily will add any response from SDA on any reasons for the four-satellite difference between Tournear’s statement in October and the Dec. 4 solicitation.
The earlier T2TL-Alpha satellites are to transmit beyond line-of-sight Link 16 data to military forces from space, while T2TL-Beta satellites are to transmit over Ultra High Frequency S-band for tactical satellite communications.
T2TL satellites, which are to begin launches in September 2026, are to have three optical communications terminals (OCTs), and the Gamma satellites are to add a fourth OCT and a “Warlock mission payload,” SDA said. The T2TL-Gamma satellites are to launch by June 1, 2027.
The agency said that it expects to issue the T2TL-Gamma solicitation by the end of this year. Tranche 2 is to have about 270 Transport and Tracking Layer satellites. The SDA Transport Layer satellites are to provide rapid sensor to shooter data, while the Tracking Layer satellites are to provide a significant leap in the detection and tracking of hypersonic and ballistic missiles.