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The defence prime has been tapped to develop a satellite constellation designed to support Joint All-Domain Command Control capability.
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The Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman for the development of a constellation of 42 low-Earth orbit (pLEO) satellites for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) mesh satellite communications network.
The project, worth up to US$692 million (AU$953.5 million), aims to provide resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport supporting US military missions around the world.
The network will be designed to connect elements of an integrated sensing architecture, serving as a critical element for Joint All-Domain Command Control.
“Northrop Grumman recognises information on the modern battlefield must be delivered to our warfighters at the speed of relevance,” Robert Fleming, vice-president and general manager, strategic space systems at Northrop Grumman said.
“Our T1TL solution combines decades of proven end-to-end satellite system integration and heritage communication mission expertise accumulated across multiple orbital regimes to rapidly field these critical capabilities to warfighters in the field.”
T1TL is expected to field key technologies and infrastructure to enable future proliferated space missions responsive to warfighter priorities, including battle management, missile tracking and target custody.
The network leverages laser communication terminals to connect the global constellation while providing networked Link-16 and high-rate Ka-band connectivity for air, maritime and ground users.
“SDA is changing the landscape for acquisition of national defence space capabilities by capitalising on a unique business model that harnesses commercial development to achieve a pLEO architecture that enhances resilience and lowers latency to process and move data from sensor to shooter,” SDA director Derek Tournear said.
“The per-satellite price, volume, and speed of delivery represented by the T1TL agreements signed with our partners demonstrate industry’s progress toward building a strong marketplace.”
[Related: Northrop Grumman subsidiary lands SpaceX, Optus deal]
