L3Harris rendering of the SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer. Photo: L3Harris

L3Harris is sticking with Lanteris Space Systems, now owned by Intuitive Machines, as the bus provider for its spacecraft for its work for the Space Development Agency (SDA). 

Intuitive Machines announced Tuesday that L3Harris selected the company to provide spacecraft platforms for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. 

L3Harris received the contract from SDA in late 2025 to build 18 satellites for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer, worth $843 million. Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab, and Northrop Grumman also received contracts.  

Lanteris Space Systems, formerly known as Maxar Space Systems, has supported L3Harris in its SDA contracts, building platforms for Tracking Layers 1 and 2. 

Lanteris’ experience building satellite platforms for the SDA was one of the reasons that Intuitive Machines moved to acquire the company in a bid to become a vertically integrated space prime for national security, civil, and commercial customer missions.

“This builds on a foundation of proven performance and mission trust earned through previous tracking layer selections that we look forward to carrying forward with L3Harris and the Space Development Agency,” said Intuitive Machines CEO, Steve Altemus. “Intuitive Machines is focused on building spacecraft platforms and the systems needed to sustain missions persistently and at scale, as part of complex mission architectures, including the SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer program.”