Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., has been awarded a contract to manufacture 42 satellite platforms as well as assembly, integration, and test, launch, and space vehicle commissioning support services to Northrop Grumman.
The satellite platforms are the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer prototype constellation award.
The Transport Layer will serve as the backbone for SDA’s National Defense Space Architecture by providing assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to a full range of defense applications. Supporting this vital effort underscores Airbus U.S.’s commitment to the continued expansion of its Florida facility and investment in the Space Coast in support of US Government and commercial space missions.
Derived from the ARROW platform, the Airbus U.S. solution expands on its commoditized satellite bus design providing more power and a larger payload accommodation. This modular solution offers a scalable 300 – 500 kg bus for the Northrop Grumman payload and future U.S. Government missions.
“The SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer is a critical national security program, and we are honored to support Northrop Grumman and the Space Development Agency,” said Rob Geckle, President and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space and Defense.
Airbus U.S. has designed a highly adaptable spacecraft platform and will utilize Airbus OneWeb Satellites (AOS), the Airbus U.S. and OneWeb joint venture in Merritt Island, FL, to assemble it using their production line. This line is currently delivering up to two satellites per day to OneWeb. To date, this facility has already produced over 400 of the 648 satellites on order for OneWeb.
