Northrop Grumman on Monday received an award with a potential value of $692 million from the Space Development Agency (SDA) to produce and field a constellation of 42 low-Earth orbit (pLEO) satellites for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) mesh satellite communications network.
T1TL will provide resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport supporting U.S. military missions around the world. Designed to connect elements of an integrated sensing architecture, the network will deliver persistent, secure connectivity and serve as a critical element for Joint All Domain Command Control.
T1TL will field key technologies and infrastructure to enable future proliferated space missions responsive to warfighter priorities including battle management, missile tracking, and target custody. The network uses laser communication terminals to connect the global constellation while providing persistent, networked Link-16 and high-rate Ka-band connectivity for air, maritime and ground users.
Northrop Grumman has previously fielded satellite constellations, including the assembly, integration and testing of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites in one of the world's most sophisticated constellations launched into service in low-Earth orbit in 2019.
