---
title: "The US Plans to Track Hypersonic Missiles With 1,200 Satellites"
description: "The U.S. Space Development Agency is seeking over $11 billion to deploy up to 1,200 low-orbit satellites to monitor next-generation hypersonic missiles."
date: "2019-10-07"
modified: "2019-10-07"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/pentagon-hypersonic-missiles-satellites"
categories:
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "china"
  - "hypersonic weapons"
  - "Russia"
  - "space agency"
  - "the digest"
---

# The US Plans to Track Hypersonic Missiles With 1,200 Satellites

![The U.S. Space Development Agency is seeking over $11 billion to deploy up to 1,200 low-orbit satellites to monitor next-generation hypersonic missiles.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pentagon-hypersonic-missiles-satellites.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Space Development Who?

The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) is seeking more than $11 billion to deploy up to 1,200 low-orbit satellites to monitor and target enemy hypersonic weapons, [*Bloomberg* reports](<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-04/pentagon-s-new-space-agency-seeks-10-6-billion-over-five-years>).

The satellites are part of a greater initiative called the "National Defense Space Architecture" that's meant to keep tabs on new types of hypersonic weaponry being developed by both [Russia](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-military-testing-lasers-hypersonic-weapons>) and [China](<https://futurism.com/chinese-hypersonic-railgun-photo>). In the Agency's words, the money will go towards delivering "unmet priorities needed to prevent adversaries from gaining military advantage over the United States."

## Constellation Network

The up to 1,200 satellites will reportedly eventually form seven layers of constellations. The majority of the budget will go towards enhancing existing data-comm satellites that will form the foundation of the planned constellation network.

The budget will likely raise some eyebrows. The SDA is still a small, [27-person](<https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-space/2019/09/13/space-development-agency-chief-makes-its-case-476973>) outfit and will need to win political support to secure future funding.

**READ MORE:** [Pentagon’s New Space Agency Seeks $10.6 Billion Over Five Years](<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-04/pentagon-s-new-space-agency-seeks-10-6-billion-over-five-years>) \[*Bloomberg*\]

**More on hypersonic weapons:** *[Russian Military Actively Testing Lasers, Hypersonic Weapons](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-military-testing-lasers-hypersonic-weapons>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)