The U.S. military space network is expanding. Northrop Grumman satellites will extend the secure and jam-resistant Link 16 network into space, enabling rapid delivery of tactical data to combat units.
Twenty-one satellites built by Northrop Grumman were launched as part of the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) satellite communications network. T1TL forms part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), which supports data transfer with missile-tracking satellites.
The satellites will operate in integration with the secure, high-speed and jam-resistant Link 16 network, supporting the rapid delivery of tactical data directly to combat units.
Transport Layer and Missile-Tracking Satellites
Lou Christen, Senior Director of Proliferated Systems at Northrop Grumman, said the first Transport Layer satellite group adds capacity and diversity to the PWSA constellation, while the company is under contract to deliver approximately 150 satellites. Northrop Grumman has also been contracted to deliver more than 30 spacecraft for a global missile warning and tracking constellation that will operate in integration with the Transport Layer.
With this launch marking Northrop Grumman’s first batch of Tranche 1 satellites, a second group of 21 satellites and several dozen additional satellites for PWSA are planned to be sent into low Earth orbit over the next six months. Northrop Grumman is producing approximately 150 spacecraft under Tranches 1, 2 and 3.
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Source: C4Defence – Northrop Grumman
