Troops in the IndoPacific are just a few months away from getting access to better comms tech thanks to the SDA.
SpaceX is expected to launch 21 sats on Wednesday, marking the first operational launch for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) though the agency has previously launched 28 demonstration satellites. The new Tranche 1 satellites, built by York Space Systems, are designed to help improve military comms, including enabling tactical communications over longer distances.
Milestone alert: PWSA’s first operational launch means SDA can start working with combatant commands to integrate the satellites into daily space operations. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, the acting director of the SDA, estimated troops will start using the sats in four to six months, and that service members in USINDOPACOM will get first dibs.
“Most of space has been in the intelligence collection aspect of things—ISR, PNT, and comms— but this is the first time we’ll have space as part of the operational fight,” Sandhoo told reporters.
Troops can begin working with the first batch of sats once the spacecraft go through their checkout process. Additional satellites on future launches will offer the military more global coverage as well as improved capabilities for more service members, Sandhoo said.
Production: York Space Systems CEO Dirk Wallinger said the company learned lessons during its production of the Tranche 1 sats. Changes included moving away from a serial production line—where sats are built in succession, meaning a problem with one sat can clog up the line. Instead, York used a parallel build system to manufacture the spacecraft. “If one has a problem, you can address it on the [affected] unit while other units still move forward,” Wallinger said.
What’s next: Sandhoo said it will take about 10 launches to complete Tranche 1—which is expected to include 154 sats split between the transporting and tracking layers. SDA is targeting monthly launches to complete that mission. The next batch of satellites, which is expected to launch in October, will be built by Lockheed Martin, he said.
