The Space Development Agency (SDA) has announced successful communications between LEO satellites and ground-based radio receivers, SpaceNews reports. Tests run from three low Earth orbit satellites earlier this month were able to share data via Link 16 terminals. York Space facilitated the transmissions with L-band radios aboard Tranche 0 Transport Layer satellites. York Space did not reveal the location of its ground test site.
The SDA operates under the wing of the Department of Defense’s U.S. Space Force. As the SDA website notes, its efforts are focused on space-based capabilities that support military operations. The LEO tests are helping the SDA to establish a space data network. The network, referred to as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, aims to allow the military to monitor a number of functions, from missile tracking to communications with military systems on the ground or orbiting through space.
“I can’t underscore enough the significance of this technical achievement as we demonstrate the feasibility of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and its ability to deliver space-based capabilities to the warfighter over existing tactical data links,” SDA Director Derek Tournear told SpaceNews.
“A soldier on the ground will be able to receive updated commander’s instructions, up-to-minute intelligence via a secure link,” added Charles Beames, Executive Director for York Space. “This validates SDA’s proliferated warfighter network concept.”
Reader Interactions