Just this month 21 satellites have been launched, and another 21 have been built. The ones responsible for this are The Space Development Agency. The SDA is a U.S. Department of Defense agency within the U.S. Space Force responsible for developing and deploying space-based capabilities to support military operations and enhance warfighter effectiveness.
These new satellites are called the Transport Layer Tranche 1. The Transport Layer satellites are designed to provide long distance communication for the U.S. military’s Link 16 tactical data network. Link 16 is the main way the U.S. and its allies message each other, but the problem is that it is limited to only a few hundred miles. The satellites would allow it to be able to contact anywhere on earth.
In total there will be 126 satellites that have been split up to three different companies to speed up the process. These companies are Lockheed Martin, York Space Systems and Northrop Grumman. All of which specialize in making equipment and technology for the government. The SDA received a $700 million contract so that they could have these satellites made and launched.
Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, acting director of SDA, confirmed Sept. 22 that 21 satellites built by Lockheed Martin are on track to launch in October from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. He also said it will take several months for York to complete the testing of the satellites and raise them to the right orbit. Sandhoo then went on to say “the per-unit average cost of Transport Layer satellites is about $14 million.”
