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Small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital has announced that it has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to produce 36 Beta satellite buses. The buses will be used in the second phase of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) data communications transport layer.

Terran Orbital will deliver the satellite buses to Lockheed for integration with the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer Beta variant prototype constellation. These satellites will serve as the foundation for the T2TL (Tranche 2 Transport Layer).

The T1TL (Tranche 1 Transport Layer) Beta constellation will consist of 72 satellites that aim to provide global communication and connectivity for warfighters, as well as track advanced missile threats. Both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have been awarded prototype agreements to build and operate their own constellations of 36 T1TL Beta satellites, under a contract worth .5 billion.

To ensure coverage, the satellites will be divided into three orbital planes. The first plane is scheduled for launch into low Earth orbit in September 2026.

Terran Orbital is also concurrently manufacturing 42 buses for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer, which is set to launch in late 2024. The company has successfully completed the critical design review and the manufacturing readiness review phase for the T1TL satellite buses. Subsequently, the buses will be delivered to Lockheed for payload integration and testing.

This contract further solidifies Terran Orbital’s position as a key player in the development and production of satellite buses for advanced space missions.

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