SDA begins prototype work on Warlock fire-control payload

A SpaceX Falcon 9 loaded with a Tranche 0 payload variant for the Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) sits on the launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Space Development Agency)

The Space Development Agency (SDA) has begun prototype development for a new fire-control mission payload system, as part of the agency's kick-off for the newest satellite variant in its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Prototype variants of the Warlock fire-control mission payload will be included in the mission loadout for the new Gamma variant satellites for Tranche 2 of the PWSA's Transport Layer constellation, according to an SDA statement.

Agency officials awarded Colorado-based York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems in California the USD424 million development contract for 20 Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma satellites in August.

Under the terms of the firm-fixed price, other transaction authority (OTA) agreements, each company will build 10 T2TL-Gamma satellite prototypes, for a total of 20 T2TL-Gamma space vehicles (SVs) and payloads.

The York Space Systems' segment of the OTA contract is worth approximately USD170 million, with Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems receiving USD245 million as part of the T2TL-Gamma deal. In addition to the Warlock payload, SDA programme officials are developing other prototype applications for the Gamma variant satellites.

In addition to the Warlock payload, York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems will produce a Ka-band mission payload, as well as subsystem prototypes to address data network routing, signal encryption, and platform navigation, according to the T2TL-Gamma industry solicitation issued in December 2023.