The United States Space Force is moving forward with a sweeping overhaul of its acquisition framework, a move that will eventually see the Space Development Agency (SDA) relinquish control of its critical communications backbone. Speaking at the annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, the acting director of the SDA, confirmed that the Transport Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) will transition to a new leadership structure under the Service’s recently established Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) model.
The transition marks a pivotal moment for the SDA, an agency founded in 2019 with the explicit mission of disrupting traditional, slow-moving military procurement cycles. By moving the Transport Layer—the data-routing heart of the military’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation—to the PAE for Space-Based Sensing and Targeting, the Space Force aims to centralize authority and streamline the delivery of capabilities to the joint warfighter. While the SDA has been the primary architect of this "mesh network" in space, the new structure reflects a broader Department of Defense (DoD) strategy to integrate disparate space programs into cohesive mission portfolios.
The Evolution of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture
The PWSA is the cornerstone of the SDA’s vision for a resilient, multi-layered satellite constellation. Unlike traditional military satellite programs that rely on a few massive, expensive satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO), the PWSA utilizes hundreds of smaller, mass-produced satellites in LEO. This "proliferation" makes the system harder for adversaries to disable, as the loss of a single node does not compromise the entire network.
The architecture is divided into several "layers," with the Transport Layer and the Tracking Layer being the most prominent. The Transport Layer acts as the space-based "Wi-Fi" or data backbone, utilizing optical inter-satellite links (OISLs) to transmit massive amounts of data across the globe at the speed of light. This data is then downlinked to tactical radios, such as Link-16, providing real-time intelligence to soldiers, pilots, and sailors.
Sandhoo explained that once the PAE for Space-Based Sensing and Targeting is fully operational, that office will assume supervision of the Transport Layer. "When they come up with the requirements for what the warfighter needs, they’ll be picking up that piece of that," Sandhoo noted during a media roundtable. This shift suggests that the Transport Layer is no longer viewed as an experimental project but as a foundational utility that must be integrated into the broader sensing and targeting mission sets of the Space Force.
Understanding the PAE Model and the Hegseth Directive
The restructuring follows a directive from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has sought to empower acquisition executives within the military services. By standing up six Portfolio Acquisition Executives, the Space Force is attempting to move away from "program-centric" management—where individual satellite programs operate in silos—and toward "mission-centric" management.
The six PAEs are designed to give leaders more authority over program funding and more ownership over the end-to-end delivery of capabilities. This flexibility is seen as essential for competing with the rapid technological advancements of near-peer adversaries like China and Russia. Sandhoo himself was recently named the PAE for Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT), a portfolio that includes the SDA’s Tracking Layer as well as legacy programs previously managed by Space Systems Command (SSC).
Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of SSC, reinforced this new hierarchy, noting that the goal is to create a more unified front in space acquisition. Under this model, the PAEs will have the power to shift funds between programs within their portfolio to address emerging threats or technical hurdles, a level of agility that was previously difficult to achieve under rigid congressional budget line items.
A Chronology of the SDA and the Tranche Strategy
To understand the significance of this transition, one must look at the SDA’s unique "Tranche" acquisition model. Rather than spending a decade designing a "perfect" satellite, the SDA releases new iterations, or Tranches, every two years.
- Tranche 0 (The Demonstration Phase): Launched in 2023, Tranche 0 consisted of 28 satellites designed to prove the feasibility of the PWSA. These satellites demonstrated that optical links could successfully pass data between different vendors’ hardware in orbit.
- Tranche 1 (The Initial Warfighting Capability): This phase involves approximately 126 Transport Layer satellites and 35 Tracking Layer satellites. Tranche 1 is intended to provide regional persistence and low-latency data transfer for tactical use.
- Tranche 2 (Global Persistence): Currently in the procurement and early production phase, Tranche 2 will expand the constellation to provide worldwide coverage, ensuring that the U.S. military has high-speed data access anywhere on Earth.
- Tranche 3 and Beyond: These future increments are intended to incorporate advanced technologies like onboard AI processing and enhanced electronic warfare protections.
However, the path has not been without obstacles. Sandhoo confirmed that Tranche 1 launches have been on a "strategic pause" since November 2024 to address technical fixes. Despite the delay, the agency is targeting a restart of launches in May or June of 2025. Furthermore, the future of Tranche 3 remains uncertain. Sandhoo admitted that the SDA has "paused" the Tranche 3 Transport Layer efforts, and its eventual fate will likely be decided by the new PAE leadership.
The Identity Crisis: Will the SDA Survive?
The transition of the Transport Layer has reignited long-standing rumors that the SDA may eventually be dissolved or fully subsumed by Space Systems Command. Since its inception, the SDA has operated with a high degree of autonomy, reporting directly to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering before being transferred to the Space Force in 2022.
Its "move fast and break things" culture is often contrasted with the more traditional, risk-averse culture of the legacy Air Force and Space Force acquisition offices. Sandhoo acknowledged the speculation regarding the agency’s future, predicting that the organizational landscape will look vastly different in the coming years.
"Five years from now, the names of the organization will be different than what you see today," Sandhoo said. "There probably won’t be SDA or Space RCO (Rapid Capabilities Office) or SSC. There’ll be something else."
Despite the potential for name changes, Sandhoo emphasized that the SDA’s core philosophy—rapid, iterative deployment and the use of commercial technology—must be preserved. He pointed out that Congress has legislated specific authorities for the SDA that "can’t just go away." These authorities allow the agency to bypass certain bureaucratic layers, enabling it to go from contract award to launch in less than three years—a timeline unheard of in traditional defense procurement.
Broader Implications for the Defense Industrial Base
The shift to the PAE model and the eventual transition of the Transport Layer have significant implications for the commercial space industry. Companies like SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and York Space Systems have become key partners in the SDA’s vision, winning multi-billion dollar contracts to build out the various Tranches.
For these contractors, the move to a "Sensing and Targeting" portfolio suggests that the Space Force is looking for deeper integration between the satellites themselves and the weapons systems they support. The Transport Layer is no longer just a "pipe" for data; it is a critical component of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiative, which seeks to link every sensor and shooter across the military.
Industry analysts suggest that this reorganization could lead to more stable, long-term requirements. While the SDA’s two-year cycle provided many opportunities for new entrants, it also created a high-pressure environment for established primes. A consolidated portfolio approach might offer a clearer roadmap for future technology investments, though it also risks reintroducing the very bureaucracy the SDA was created to avoid.
Analysis of the Strategic Shift
The decision to move the Transport Layer out of the SDA’s exclusive control is a calculated risk. On one hand, it validates the SDA’s success; the Transport Layer is now considered so vital to the "Sensing and Targeting" mission that it must be managed alongside the sensors it supports. On the other hand, there is a palpable fear within the space community that the "SDA magic"—the speed and agility—might be diluted as it is integrated into the larger Space Force machine.
The success of this transition will depend on whether the PAE for Space-Based Sensing and Targeting can maintain the "Tranche" mindset. If the office reverts to the traditional 10-year development cycles for the next generation of Transport satellites, the U.S. could lose its competitive edge in LEO.
Furthermore, the "strategic pause" in Tranche 1 launches serves as a reminder that rapid acquisition does not eliminate technical risk. Building a constellation of hundreds of interconnected satellites is a monumental engineering challenge. The coming months will be a litmus test for the SDA and its new overseers as they attempt to resolve technical issues and resume the aggressive launch schedule required to make the PWSA a reality.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Military Space
As the Space Force continues its maturation, the reorganization announced by Sandhoo represents a move toward institutionalizing the "new space" era. The SDA has successfully shifted the paradigm from a few "exquisite" satellites to a proliferated, resilient architecture. Now, the challenge lies in scaling that architecture and ensuring it remains responsive to the needs of the warfighter.
Whether the agency retains its name or is eventually folded into a new "Integrated Mission Area," the legacy of the SDA is already cemented in the hundreds of satellites currently being built and launched. The transition of the Transport Layer is not an ending, but rather the beginning of a more integrated, mission-focused approach to maintaining American dominance in the ultimate high ground. As the May-June launch window approaches, all eyes will be on the Space Force to see if this new acquisition structure can deliver on its promise of speed, lethality, and resilience.