In the “Accelerated Missile Defense Phase 3” project, the US Space Development Agency awarded manufacturing contracts for 18 missile tracking satellites each to L3Harris and Sierra, with a total value of about 1.75 billion US dollars. L3Harris is responsible for developing missile defense variants equipped with mid-field infrared payloads, and Sierra is responsible for missile warning and tracking satellites. It is expected that all 36 satellites will be deployed in 4 orbital planes by the end of 2028. After this batch of satellites is completed and deployed, the total number of low-orbit tracking satellites throughout Phase 3 will rise to 104, creating a huge satellite defense grid.

In the “Accelerated Missile Defense Phase 3” project, the US Space Development Agency awarded manufacturing contracts for 18 missile tracking satellites each to L3Harris and Sierra, with a total value of about 1.75 billion US dollars. L3Harris is responsible for developing missile defense variants equipped with mid-field infrared payloads, and Sierra is responsible for missile warning and tracking satellites. It is expected that all 36 satellites will be deployed in 4 orbital planes by the end of 2028. After this batch of satellites is completed and deployed, the total number of low-orbit tracking satellites throughout Phase 3 will rise to 104, creating a huge satellite defense grid.