SUMMARY
- Lockheed & Northrop: Awarded $1.5B for satellite prototypes.
- The Mission: Boost U.S. military’s encrypted communication network.
- The Big Picture: Space Force budget skyrockets, eyeing $30B for 2024.
The Pentagon's very own Space Development Agency (SDA) just dished out a cool $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Their mission? To whip up some prototype communication satellites.
This isn't just any fleet of satellites. We're talking about 72 machines for the “Beta” version of SDA’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer constellation. Fancy name aside, it's a big step for the U.S. military, which is cooking up an encrypted communication system with hundreds of satellites, stylishly dubbed the "Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture."
By September 2026, both Lockheed and Northrop will grace the skies with 36 satellites each. Lockheed bags a contract worth $816 million, while Northrop walks away with $733 million. SDA was quite the popular kid, getting six proposals before deciding.
Why is the Pentagon so space-hungry lately? The answer lies in keeping pace with China’s burgeoning space skills. With national security in the balance, they’re not cutting corners. The Space Force’s budget is ballooning, having requested a whopping $30 billion for 2024. Defense contractors and space-savvy firms are reaping the benefits.
Earlier satellites launched in April showed the potential of SDA’s grand network plan. And it's not just about calls and messages. The system is set to offer missile warnings and tracking, as part of the Space Force's tie-up with the Department of Defense’s unified network project.
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