Northrop Grumman Corp. has won a competition to build and deploy a low-Earth orbit constellation of 14 satellites with infrared sensors for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer. The layer will detect, identify and track hypersonic weapons and other advanced missiles from their launch through interception by U.S. missiles.
The satellites will be built at Northrop’s Redondo Beach facility and are scheduled for deployment in 2025. Once in space, the satellites will operate in as many as four low-Earth orbital planes, interconnected with Tranche 1Transport Layer satellites. Each will feature a wide field-of-view infrared sensor, three optical communications terminals, and a Ka-band payload for communications.
Northrop will leverage its expertise with the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) to provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume network in space to support U.S. military missions around the world, the company said in a release.
Robert Fleming, vice president and general manager of the strategic space system division of the aerospace and defense contractor, said that Northrop Grumman will provide an integrated space vehicle that will accelerate the nation’s ability to defend against the most pressing challenges in missile defense.
“The Tranche 1 Tracking Layer (T1TRK) builds upon Northrop Grumman’s experience with T1TL and will demonstrate a capability to track advanced missile threats,” Fleming said in a statement.
Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear said T1TRK went from solicitation to award in about four months.
“We look forward to collaborating with our industry partners to quickly deliver missile warning/missile tracking capabilities as part of the Department of Defense hybrid architecture that will provide critical and timely information,” Tournear said in a statement.
