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The US Department of Defense has granted a contract worth approximately .5 billion to Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin for the construction of 72 satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) constellation. This constellation, known as Tranche 2 Transport Layer – Beta (T2TL), is part of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) initiative to establish a threat-driven constellation that provides critical services to the US military.

The PWSA constellation aims to ensure connectivity for the armed forces through a network of satellites in different orbits. Some of the services it will offer include low-latency tactical data links, enhanced missile tracking, coverage of land and marine targets, and targeting capabilities beyond line of sight. It will serve as the space-based backbone for the Department of Defense’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) infrastructure, which enables seamless integration of military operations across various domains.

To address the potential threat of satellite destruction, the SDA plans to deploy a large number of satellites through the “proliferated” approach. In April, SDA director Derek Tournear stated that this strategy would make it difficult and costly for an enemy to shoot down the satellites due to their affordability and proliferation. The PWSA will also be deployed at multiple low-Earth orbit altitudes to further complicate the constellation and improve resilience.

As the US military advances its presence in space, concerns arise about the growing issue of space debris. The SDA has not yet addressed how the PWSA will combat this problem. The first batch of satellites, referred to as Tranche 0, was launched in April and encountered delays due to supply chain issues and clearance challenges from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has expressed concerns about potential electromagnetic interference caused by the satellites.

The contract awarded to Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin will augment the existing Tranche 1 satellites, which are scheduled for deployment in fiscal year 2024. Tranche 3 and Tranche 4 are also planned, with the former featuring improved missile tracking capabilities and the latter bringing continual advancements to the existing layers of the constellation.

Despite the challenges faced by the PWSA project, the US military remains committed to strengthening its warfighter satellite constellation and ensuring the resilience of its space-based communication network.

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