As satellite operators turn to smaller, proliferated spacecraft to protect space-based capabilities, industry sees ground stations as a new target for attacks.
The Denver-based aerospace company is on contract for more than 130 satellites to build out the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
The Space Development Agency’s first operational satellites are scheduled to launch early next year due to supply chain issues that prevented a 2024 launch.
The firm fixed-price other transaction authority contract awards are worth around $424 million to build and operate 20 new data communications satellites.
Northrop has completed the preliminary design review for over 70 data-transport spacecraft built for Tranche 2 of the SDA proliferated satellite constellation.
The Space Force has awarded contracts to Blue Origin, CACI International, General Atomics and Viasat to develop space laser-communication terminal prototypes.