The Space Development Agency (SDA) is making significant progress in its Transport Layer Tranche 1 program, with the second launch of satellites imminent. This program aims to create a low Earth orbit (LEO) mesh network for global military communications and missile defense. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, acting director of SDA, confirmed on September 22 that 21 Lockheed Martin-built satellites are scheduled for launch in October from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
This launch follows the successful deployment of 21 York Space Systems satellites on September 10, marking the first "plane" in the six-plane constellation. Sandhoo, speaking at the Air Space & Cyber conference, noted that York Space Systems will require several months to complete satellite testing and orbital adjustments. The SDA is developing the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a multi-layered network encompassing data transport and missile-tracking satellites. The Transport Layer satellites provide beyond line-of-sight connectivity for the U.S. military's Link 16 network, extending its reach globally.
Tranche 1 is composed of six orbital "planes," with Lockheed Martin, York Space Systems, and Northrop Grumman each responsible for two. Lockheed Martin completed delivery of its 21 spacecraft, part of a $700 million contract for 42 satellites awarded in February 2022. Each spacecraft utilizes a Terran Orbital bus, a Lockheed subsidiary. To manage the increased workload, Lockheed Martin opened a new Small Satellite Processing & Delivery Center in Littleton, Colorado. “The low bay clean room is dedicated to the rapid development of small satellites,” said Joe Rickers, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for protected communications. “Clearly, we’ve had to set up the infrastructure to be able to really support the volume of satellites that SDA will be putting through.”
Lockheed Martin's involvement extends beyond Tranche 1, with ongoing projects for Transport Layer Tranche 2 (36 satellites) and Tracking Layer Tranche 2 (18 satellites), a missile-warning constellation. The rapid deployment of Tranche 1 aims to demonstrate the resilience of proliferated LEO architectures, utilizing numerous smaller, more affordable satellites for enhanced resistance to disruption. Sandhoo stated that the average cost per Transport Layer satellite is approximately $14 million.