SD's Upcoming Launches Pushed Back to Late Summer
The Space Development Agency (SDA) has delayed the launch of its Tranche 1 satellite constellation, pushing the initial launch back to late summer 2025. The delay is attributed to supply chain issues that caused late deliveries of crucial components. Despite the setback, the SDA anticipates monthly launches following the first mission.
Tranche 1, consisting of 154 satellites, is part of SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The agency initially planned to start Tranche 1 launches by September 2024, but the schedule has been adjusted multiple times, with a current target of March or April 2025. Now, the SDA expects to deploy the entire initial warfighting capability of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in early 2027. This represents a delay from previous schedules but aligns with combatant commands' expectations for capabilities in 2027.
While Tranche 1 faces delays, Tranche 2 activities are progressing in parallel. In March 2025, the SDA issued a solicitation for the recompete of 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma variant space vehicles. This suggests that the procurement and development for Tranche 2 are moving forward independently, although the exact launch schedule remains unspecified.
Supply chain issues have impacted the aerospace industry in recent years, affecting the optical communication terminals, propulsion systems, encryption devices, and more of the Tranche 1 satellites. The SDA is addressing these challenges and working towards delivering a viable laser communication concept.
The current status of SDA’s Tranche 2 launch plans is progressing in parallel with ongoing work on Tranche 1. While delays in Tranche 1 have pushed back the initial SDA satellite constellation build-up, Tranche 2 planning, procurement, and development are continuing on schedule. The Tranche 2 readiness and launch timeline could ultimately be influenced if major issues persist in Tranche 1, but currently, SDA is moving forward with both efforts to maintain momentum toward its proliferated warfighter space architecture.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is working towards delivering a viable laser communication concept for the Tranche 1 satellites, which face delays due to supply chain issues. The delayed initial launch of the Tranche 1 satellite constellation, originally planned for September 2024, is now expected in late summer 2025. Despite this setback, Tranche 2 activities parallelly progress, as evidenced by the SDA's solicitation for the recompete of 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma variant space vehicles in March 2025. The SDA is moving forward with both Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 efforts to maintain momentum toward its proliferated warfighter space architecture, with the eventual deployment of the entire initial warfighting capability of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture scheduled for early 2027.
Furthermore, the SDA anticipates monthly launches following the first Tranche 1 mission, and the delays have not hindered science, space-and-astronomy, and technology advancements in the space force sector, as both Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 continue to develop.
