News from the Space Development Agency, part of the US Space Force.
This fall, they awarded contracts for 28 satellites required for the initial phase of the National Defense Space Architecture. (NDSA)
By the end of 2022, we will have 20 surveillance satellites in low orbit, watching the surface of the planet, transmitting information to an undisclosed location in the United States.
The eight tracking satellites to be launched in 2022 are wide-field-of-view satellites for the missile-tracking layer of the NDSA.
These 8 missile tracking satellites will be in a higher orbit, watching for bogeys.
Lockheed Martin has been awarded $188 million and York Space Systems was awarded a $94 million contract to each build 10 transport satellites.
The contracts for the 8 wide-field-of-view missile-tracking satellites were awarded to SpaceX and L3Harris for $149 million and $193 million respectively. Each company is responsible to build 4 satellites each.
One term of the contract was a commitment to meet the tight deadlines required to achieve their goal of 2022 for the first launch.
It’s interesting to note the price differences between the accepted bids for these companies.
Lockheed is being paid double the amount York is for exactly the same product.
L2Harris is being paid $44 million more than SpaceX for the same thing.
Apparently, the contracts were evaluated on technical merit, ability to meet deadlines, and then the price was factored in.
Neither York nor SpaceX has previously built a satellite for the military, which might account for the lower bid.
L3Harris has built mainly weather satellites in the past.
Lockheed is the only supplier with past experience providing defense satellites for the military.
Their contract was awarded based on their “ability to be disruptive and quickly refocus its energy.”
They’ve been testing new technology in anticipation of this new requirement so they were able to demonstrate it as part of their contribution to the team.
My observation of these developments,
In the final year of a failing presidency, 45 has made decisions that will impact the world for years to come.
The shift away from US involvement in 'on the ground' security and support in other countries is part of his failed leadership and increased focus on his self-interest.
Speed has been an important focus of this proliferation.
It’s unprecedented in this industry.
I anticipate that other world leaders are surprised and are already scrambling to catch up.
The US loves its ‘war machine’.
There's no evidence of a direct threat that requires a response of this level.
I'm assuming this spending is more of the same proliferation.
I see it as the final death throes of a failed leader, awarding defense contracts on his way out.
I'll bet there were kickbacks of some kind.
I would say that when it comes to off the charts, it’s possible that we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
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