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SpaceX Delivers Second SDA Tranche 1 Plane as Air Force Approves Vandenberg Expansion

The new satellites set up initial warfighter testing in the Indo-Pacific within months.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 on Oct. 15, 2025, launched 21 satellites for the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer.
Pictured is a SpaceX Falcon 9 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. just before the Wednesday launch of Tranche 1, Transport Layer satellites (SpaceX Photo)
Image
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Courtesy/SpaceX)

Overview

  • A Falcon 9 from Vandenberg launched 21 Lockheed Martin-built Transport Layer satellites on Oct. 15, the second orbital plane for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 network.
  • The booster landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You after a previous flight that included SDA’s Sept. 10 Tranche 1 launch carrying 21 York Space Systems satellites.
  • Tranche 1 is slated to field 126 Transport Layer data-relay spacecraft and 28 Tracking Layer missile warning/tracking satellites across six Transport and four Tracking launches over roughly a year.
  • The Transport Layer uses optical and radio-frequency crosslinks to provide encrypted, low-latency connectivity and extend tactical links such as Link 16 for global, beyond-line-of-sight operations.
  • The Department of the Air Force finalized an environmental review allowing SpaceX to double Vandenberg launches to up to 100 per year and convert SLC-6 for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, with about 18 months of pad modifications and a ramp-up expected by 2027 despite state-level objections.