The US Space Development Agency (SDA) has signed contracts with both York Space Systems and Northrop Grumman for the development of satellites for its mesh network known as Transport Layer Tranche 2 Alpha.
Colorado based York Space Systems was awarded a US$615 million contract to build 62 satellites for the constellation, announced on 20 October. Just over a week later, the SDA followed up with a separate US$732 million contract to Northrop Grumman for 38 satellites and its support services – making up the rest of the Transport Layer Tranche 2 Alpha, which will have 100 satellites altogether.
The first of the satellites are expected to be launched in late 2026. Tranche 2 also includes 36 Beta satellites being built by Lockheed Martin, as part of a US$816 million contract disclosed in August. Terran Orbital was also only recently announced as the contractor for the satellite buses that Lockheed Martin will need to fulfil its contract.
To date, Northrop Grumman has secured SDA orders for 132 satellites for the Transport and the Tracking Layer of the mesh network while York Space Systems has received orders for 124 satellites.
Concept image of the SDA’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Layer. Courtesy: Northrop Grumman
