Teledyne’s infrared sensor technology enables America’s next-generation space-based missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense capabilities
Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS), a part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated and a global leader in advanced infrared imaging solutions for space and defense applications, today announced a milestone in support of the U.S. Space Force and Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Through its participation in SDA Tracking Layer programs, Teledyne has delivered more than 1.3 billion infrared detector pixels for missile warning and missile tracking missions supporting national defense objectives.
The PWSA is SDA’s rapidly deployed, proliferated constellation of low Earth orbit satellites designed to provide resilient, global missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense capabilities. SDA has described the architecture as supporting the delivery of space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter.
Teledyne’s contribution demonstrates significant scale. If the company’s delivered missile warning and missile tracking pixels were laid end-to-end, they would extend approximately 17 kilometers, or the equivalent height of approximately 38 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of one another.
“Teledyne has demonstrated that it is possible to deliver world-class infrared performance at the production rates required for proliferated architectures,” said Megan Tremer, President, Teledyne Space Imaging and MEMS. “We are proud to support the warfighter with advanced sensing technologies that provide resilient, persistent global missile defense capabilities.”
Over the past several years, Teledyne has successfully scaled its manufacturing operations to meet the demanding cadence of proliferated space constellations. The company has supported Tracking Layer programs across multiple SDA tranches while maintaining the performance, reliability, and radiation hardness required for operation in the harsh space environment. To date, Teledyne has delivered more than 170 infrared focal planes in support of the SDA Tracking Layer and is currently under contract to provide more than 115 additional focal planes. This production record demonstrates Teledyne’s ability to scale advanced space-qualified infrared sensor technology to meet the volume, schedule, and mission-assurance demands of proliferated architectures.
In parallel with increasing production volume, Teledyne has continued to advance the state of infrared sensor technology through the development and delivery of increasingly capable large-format focal plane arrays. These advancements include focal plane formats as large as 6K × 6K and 8K × 8K pixels, providing wider area coverage and enhanced tracking performance for next-generation missile warning and missile defense missions.
Building on its success supporting the SDA Tracking Layer, Teledyne has also been selected to provide infrared focal plane technology supporting both recently announced Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) awards. Announced by SDA in July 2026, AMDT3 will add more than 30 additional missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense satellites to the Tracking Layer in direct support of the Golden Dome for America initiative. SDA stated that these awards represent an acceleration of global missile warning, tracking, and defense capabilities intended to defend the United States, deployed forces, and allies against advanced missile threats.
The AMDT3 awards expand upon SDA’s existing Tracking Layer generations and further reinforce the importance of infrared sensing technologies as a foundational element of future space-based missile defense architectures.
“As missile threats continue to evolve, advanced infrared sensing remains at the heart of space-based missile defense,” said George Bobb, President and Chief Executive Officer of Teledyne. “Our investments in manufacturing capacity, product innovation, and mission assurance position Teledyne to support the nation’s defense programs for years to come.”
For more information about Teledyne Imaging Sensors and its space imaging capabilities, visit Teledyne Imaging.
About Teledyne Imaging Sensors
Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS), a division of Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, leads in the development of high-performance imaging systems and sensor technologies for astronomy, Earth observation, and advanced scientific and defense missions. TIS specializes in the design, fabrication, and integration of infrared and visible detectors, focal plane arrays, and camera electronics for demanding environments and pioneering research.
About Teledyne Technologies
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at teledyne.com.
Public Sources
SDA: Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture naming announcement
SDA: AMDT3 awards supporting Golden Dome for America
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261005647731/en/
Contacts
Media Contact
Adam Wade
Teledyne Space
805-402-2607
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