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The Space Development Agency (SDA) has renamed its proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). In a recent announcement, the SDA revealed that it has contracted SpaceX, Kuiper Government Solutions, and Aalyria Technologies for a study on LEO backhaul capability. The total value of the awards is .6 million.

The purpose of the study is to expand the Transport Layer of the PWSA to include a LEO backhaul capability. This will enable the rapid transfer of broadband data between edge and main networks worldwide, providing a resilient communication path. The SDA is seeking a total capacity of approximately 500 Gbps for the initial LEO backhaul capability, with a system latency of under 100 msec. The backhaul services should be capable of supporting 100 to 1,000 terrestrial users at rates of 2 to 10 Gbps, as well as 20,000 to 40,000 users at rates of 100-500 Mbps.

The purpose of connecting commercial or existing LEO systems to the PWSA is to enhance resiliency and enable the seamless transmission of high-bandwidth data across the network. The studies conducted over a period of 90 days will involve market research to assess industry capabilities for the proposed LEO backhaul capability. The findings from these studies will inform potential government acquisition.

The SDA is committed to further developing the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and leveraging the capabilities of commercial and existing LEO systems. The ultimate goal is to enhance the data transmission capacity and resilience of the network, facilitating efficient and reliable communication between edge and main networks on a global scale.

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