In a bid to ramp up security measures, the US armed forces have actively invested in the creation of their own satellite network cluster. This move, inspired by the success of commercial networks like Starlink and Oneweb, aims to ensure a higher level of security, as reported by CNBC.
Under the Space Development Agency (SDA) program, Lockheed Martin has become a key participant. SDA is gearing up to launch the “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture” (PWSA), the second mission of its satellite cluster.
The PWSA, characterized by Chris Winslett, the director of Lockheed Martin’s program for creating transport satellites, is similar to an internet network in space, enabling connectivity with any point on Earth. The primary objective behind this endeavor is to achieve a level of security that exceeds what is currently attainable through commercial networks.
The development of PWSA is being carried out in stages, with each stage representing a new generation of satellites with enhanced features. The first stage, known as Transhe 0, incorporates 28 satellites produced by York, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and L3harris. The price tag for a single transport satellite at this stage stands at approximately $15 million.
SDA’s strategic interaction head, Jennifer Elzea, explains that the agency aims to leverage commercial advancements to establish a large, sustainable, and modern satellite cluster. Contracts worth over $5 billion have already been issued for satellite production in subsequent stages.
Moreover, PWSA will make a significant contribution to the Pentagon’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) project, an ambitious initiative aiming to create a unified network across all military domains.
Notwithstanding the fact that PWSA is still in its nascent stages, the program director of Transhe 0, Mike Eppolito, expressed confidence in the project’s successful advancement and long-term prospects.