The Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded Golden Dome contracts to L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space to build missile warning technology for US President Donald Trump’s planned homeland defense shield.
On July 13, 2026, SDA said L3Harris had been awarded $955 million to produce 18 Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) satellites.
On the same day, Sierra Space said the company had been awarded up to $798 million, to design, manufacture and deliver 18 missile warning/missile tracking/missile defense satellites.
In a statement, the SDA said the two awards are for the delivery of 36 space vehicles across four orbital planes – one for 18 missile warning/missile tracking variant satellites and one for 18 missile defense variant satellites.
“L3Harris’ continued work in Indiana will deliver the next generation of space-based tracking capabilities that we need to protect the homeland and stay ahead of our adversaries,” Senator Jim Banks said. “This is exactly the kind of industrial investment that strengthens deterrence.”
L3Harris said the new contract builds on the successful on-orbit demonstration of its Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellite and infrared sensor payload the company developed for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Commenting on the new agreement, Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Sierra Space, said the contract demonstrates the company’s “capabilities as a formidable player in American national security”.
“We’re honored to partner with SDA as a prime contractor to deliver on the nation’s space-based missions,” Jablonsky said. “By combining cutting-edge design and manufacturing systems with industrial depth and systems integration expertise, we’re able to move faster, manage risk better and deliver more cost-effective solutions. AMDT3 is proof that our approach is working, and we’re just getting started.”
Sierra Space’s 18 AMDT3 satellites will be based on the Horizon spacecraft, one of three satellites in the Sierra Space Eclipse Satellite Family.
Both sets of satellites from L3Harris and Sierra Space are expected to be available for launch by the end of 2028.