On June 23, a U.S. military satellite, Dragoon, built by York Space Systems, successfully reached orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission, Dragoon is the first of 12 satellites York is constructing under contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA).
The SDA, a branch of the Space Force, is responsible for deploying the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This program aims to create a network of interconnected satellites for enhanced global missile tracking, targeting, and secure military communications. York stated that Dragoon is designed to “demonstrate secure connectivity to warfighter platforms for targeting, missile warning, and tracking of advanced missile threats.”
This launch also showcases York’s new LX-class satellite bus, introduced in 2021. Offering a payload capacity of up to 300 kilograms and increased power, the LX-class surpasses the capabilities of York’s S-class bus. The 12 satellites, part of the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES), will test the effectiveness of communications payloads from low Earth orbit, traditionally handled by large, expensive geostationary satellites. The 2022 contract is valued at up to $200 million.
York's involvement in this project represents a “key milestone in York’s support of national security space initiatives,” according to the company. The SDA’s architecture is vital to the Pentagon’s strategy of enhancing the survivability of space-based assets by transitioning from individual satellites to constellations. This shift is driven by concerns regarding threats such as anti-satellite weapons and electronic interference. The SDA plans to launch hundreds of small satellites in tranches over the following years.