The Space Development Agency (SDA) has recently awarded contracts worth $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for the development of prototype communications satellites. This move is part of the SDA’s plans to establish the Beta variant of its Tranche 2 Transport Layer constellation, which aims to create a robust network of satellites to facilitate encrypted communications for the U.S. military. The constellation, known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, will consist of 72 satellites, with Lockheed and Northrop each responsible for building 36 units. The launch of these prototype satellites is scheduled to begin by September 2026. Lockheed’s contract is valued at $816 million, while Northrop’s contract is worth $733 million. The SDA received a total of six proposals for the contract, highlighting the competitive nature of the selection process.
This move by the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency reflects an increasing ambition to keep up with China’s advancements in space technology, recognizing the significant implications for national security efforts. The budget of the Space Force, a crucial component of the Pentagon’s strategy, has witnessed substantial growth, with a request of $30 billion for fiscal 2024. A significant portion of this funding is allocated to defense contractors and space companies that provide products and services to the military.
SDA’s system has already seen its initial satellites, Tranche 0, launched in April. These satellites served as a proof-of-concept for the SDA’s network. In addition to communications capabilities, the SDA network aims to provide the U.S. military with missile warning and tracking functionalities. It falls under the purview of the Space Force’s contribution to the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control project, which seeks to establish a unified network across all military branches.
SDA has previously awarded contracts to York Space, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris for the construction and operation of satellites within its fleet. This highlights the agency’s commitment to collaborating with industry leaders to achieve its objectives in the space domain.
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